Tech Talkin' Govs 2006, Part Three

The first two installments of SSTI's annual look at how TBED will play in the 2006 legislative priorities of the governors can be found in the Digest archives on our website: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/digest.htm

Delaware

Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, Budget Proposal, Jan. 26, 2005

"My budget also includes $632,400 to fund 10 additional math specialists. We put 22 math specialists in middle schools last year, and while I had hoped to add more than 10 this year, we simply cannot do that and maintain our modest budget growth...

"I have also included an additional $600,000 for the SEED scholarship program, which offers students the opportunity to pursue a two-year degree at Delaware Technical and Community College or the University of Delaware’s Associate in Arts tuition-free, if they do well in high school and stay out of trouble...

"I am recommending we fund more than $20 million for three critical initiatives ­- Year Three of my New Economy Initiative, our strategic fund and vaccine development efforts at the Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology."

Hawaii

Gov. Linda Lingle, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 23, 2006

"Earlier this month, I proposed a sweeping set of proposals designed to move us from our decades-long overdependence on imported oil toward energy self-sufficiency based on renewable resources [Ed. note: See the Jan. 23 issue of the Digest]. ...

"... I am proposing a bold new initiative to make Hawai`i the center of America’s development of hydrogen as an alternate fuel source. Already internationally recognized leaders in this field have expressed interest in using Hawai`i as the place where hydrogen can move from the research phase into production.

"Additionally, we need to provide expanded tax incentives for people or businesses who install energy efficient appliances … solar hot water heating, photovoltaics or wind energy systems.

"We also need to encourage the development of biofuels as a substitute for oil fuels through farming. Just as we want to mandate 20 percent alternative fuels for electricity production by 2020, we also want to adopt a standard of 20 percent use of biofuels in gasoline by 2020."

Kentucky

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, Budget Address, Jan. 17, 2006

"My budget includes a $140 million or an 8 percent increase in total funding for postsecondary education over the biennium. ...

"As part of that collaborative effort, tonight I want to announce funding for a very important initiative: the Kentucky Education Network. This investment will put our entire educational system on a common, high-speed network.

"It will connect every school, every university, every school district, adult education centers and all education related agencies of government through the same electronic pipeline, resulting in more collaborative efforts, better information, and ultimately better education for all students. ... To fund this project, my budget contains $59 million in new funding … including $37 million in bonding and $22 million in general funds.

"We cannot attain our educational goals unless we have a strong growing economy. To grow our knowledge-based economy, we must expand our applied research. ...

"... In this budget, I have provided $20 million in operational funds and $20 million in bonding for the high tech construction and investment pool to support new economy initiatives. This will also target small business innovations and bioscience research. ...

"... I am continuing our investment in energy research, which will help us keep commercial energy rates the lowest in the nation, promote clean coal technology for growing energy markets, tap the potential of coal-bed methane and vie for the $1 billion FutureGen project. ...

"... To stimulate small business, I have included $13 million to reduce the alternative minimum calculation for businesses with gross receipts less than $10 million. In fact, I will entirely eliminate the AMC for companies with receipts less than $2 million. This will reduce taxes for 70,000 Kentucky businesses. To provide more start-up money for small businesses, I propose eliminating the cap on tax credits for qualifying venture capital businesses who invest directly in Kentucky. I am announcing a minority small business pilot program which will assist minority entrepreneurs and provide micro-loans.

Maryland

Gov. Robert Erlich, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 26, 2006

"With historically low unemployment and our growing technology infrastructure, post-secondary institutions must maintain focus and funding on sector-specific workforce needs to meet the demands of a knowledge-based, post-industrial economy.

"Therefore, with respect to workforce development, we propose to increase funding for scholarships aimed at attracting students to workforce shortage areas and increase funding for loan assistance repayment.

"... [R]egarding science and research, we will create the Maryland Regenerative Research Center at UMB’S BioPark. This Center will provide a home to Maryland’s most promising companies and to leading national and international companies that relocate or expand into our State. The academic facility will be leased to university faculty who are leaders in regenerative research.

"The Center will capitalize on advances in tissue engineering, including the use of stem cells, to develop therapies directed to the repair of damaged or diseased tissues and organs.

"Through close collaboration with existing state-sponsored business development programs, the Center will focus on projects with the greatest opportunities for therapeutic breakthroughs and commercialization.

"Also included in this year’s budget submission is $20 million to fund both discoveries and translation of new stem cell knowledge for research purposes.

"Our 'Stem Cell Research Fund' will foster cutting edge research opportunities at Maryland-based research institutions or private sector companies to promote our leadership position in stem cell research.

"In addition, I have included $2.5 million to help fund the emerging field of nanotechnology. Our university system is launching the Maryland Integrated Nano-Biotechnology Initiative ('MINI'), to partner its assets with federal laboratories and the private sector. 'Mini' will target applied research and commercialization of intellectual assets to further advance our goal of technology dominance."

Michigan

Gov. Jennifer Granholm, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 25, 2006

"Michigan has the most aggressive economic plan of any state in the country. It is a bold $6 billion plan to grow jobs today and jobs tomorrow. Two of the most powerful pieces of this economic plan were just approved by this Legislature in the last two months [Ed. note: See the Dec. 5 issue of the Digest]. ...

"... We’ll invest more than $2 billion in public and private funds to develop new sectors of our economy: Advanced manufacturing. Homeland security and defense. Life sciences. Alternative energy. This effort will create all kinds of jobs for all kinds of people. Jobs that will not be outsourced. Jobs that will keep our children in Michigan. ...

"... In a few months, we will begin making prudent investments in the diverse companies that will grow jobs in Michigan. Let me touch on one of those groundbreaking areas of job growth that we’re targeting – alternative energy. ...

"... The Great Lakes State will be the alternative energy epicenter of America. Since we are the home of the automobile, it is our proud, patriotic duty to be the state that ends our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

"Our universities are already leaping into the alternative energy field. ... We will use our 21st Century Jobs Fund to grow businesses here that put Michigan on the path to alternative energy leadership. And in the months ahead, we will form a statewide partnership among all of the alternative energy research and development institutions in Michigan, and we will dramatically increase the demand in our state for alternative sources of energy to bring those kinds of businesses to Michigan. ...

"... If we are truly serious about improving both the cost and quality of health care in this state, we must tap the full power of modern science to combat life-threatening illnesses. ... Stem cell research holds the promise for finding cures and for improving the lives of thousands of people.

"Talented researchers and businesses around the world are working right now on those cures … but we can’t recruit them to Michigan to do their work because of the limits Michigan law puts on them. When human lives are at stake, we should lead the nation in this work, not put obstacles in our own path.

"Tonight, I am asking you, our Legislature, to join with me in supporting this search for cures. Pass Representative Meisner’s bill to remove the limits on stem cell research in Michigan, and do it now. ...

"... Only one-third of the students who graduate from our high schools right now have taken the math, science, and communication courses we know they’ll need to compete in our new economy.

"That is why I called for the creation of a required core curriculum for all Michigan high school students. ... For you who have 6th, 7th and 8th graders, know that we will increase after-school programs to give middle schoolers extra hours of learning focused on math, science and computer technology. We want them to be prepared when they get to that tougher high school curriculum."

New York

Gov. George Pataki, Budget Address, Jan. 17, 2006

"My executive budget also provides $5 million for Engineers of the Future, a new program that will encourage the creation of pre-engineering courses for high school students, and support training programs for pre-engineering teachers.

"It also recommends another $2.5 million for new math and science Summer Institutes for seventh and eighth graders at community colleges throughout our state, so that these students can excel in tomorrow's high-tech career fields.

"And finally, let's create a 'Partnership for Prosperity' Task Force to develop region-by-region recommendations to strengthen math and science education, including the creation of math and science academies affiliated with our Centers of Excellence. ...

"... My budget provides a record level of operating support for SUNY and CUNY. It adds $125 million in funding to our current Capital Program to ensure that these two great institutions have the best state-of-the-art facilities. It increases community college operating aid. It provides $11 million for new SUNY/CUNY Empire Innovation programs to help attract and retain world-class researchers from across the globe. And perhaps most importantly, my budget addresses the need to prepare our students for math, science and engineering careers.

"It creates a new college scholarship program - equivalent to full tuition reimbursement at SUNY or CUNY schools - for students who make a five-year commitment to teach math and science in New York's middle schools or high schools. It allocates $5 million in additional support for our Teachers of Tomorrow program to help expand the pool of math and science teachers. And it continues to encourage minority students to pursue math and science degrees, by doubling funding for our STEP and C-STEP programs. ...

"This budget builds on that success with even greater capital investments in our Centers of Excellence and a new job creation program - Tech Zones - that will provide Empire Zone benefits to firms affiliated with our centers in Albany, Buffalo, Long Island, Rochester, and Syracuse. These Tech Zones will make our Centers of Excellence even stronger catalysts for high-tech job development by attracting the firms that will turn research and ideas into opportunity and jobs.

"And tomorrow's bio-tech and bio-med breakthroughs will not only produce life-saving cures and treatments, they too, will generate massive new investments and create thousands of new jobs. Let's move forward with a new $150 million challenge grant initiative that will generate an additional $450 million in federal, not-for-profit, and private-sector matching funds to expand bio-tech and bio-med R&D at places like Columbia, Cornell, Mt. Sinai, NYU, and Sloan Kettering.

"If we are to prepare New York for tomorrow's high-tech economy, it is essential that we embrace credible domestic energy alternatives to today's expensive foreign oil. This budget provides the necessary investments to begin turning this worthy goal into a reality. It provides Empire Zone benefits to companies anywhere in the state that are developing clean, renewable energy solutions."

Ohio

Gov. Bob Taft, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 25, 2006

"And through the Third Frontier Project, we continue to transform our economy to make Ohio the best place to innovate and create new high-paying jobs...

"In the coming years, we’ll build on this progress. We’ll strengthen partnerships between research and business. And we’ll launch a new initiative to attract more venture capital and entrepreneurial talent to every region of this state.

"But transforming our economy to create new jobs does us no good if our students lack the skills they need to succeed in those careers. That’s why I’ve focused on education reform since my first day in office. And this year, with your help, we’ll finish the job by setting the right course for our students. ...

"Only one in three of Ohio’s high school graduates have the skills they need to succeed in a good entry-level job, an apprenticeship, the military, or in college. ... The world has raised the bar, and we must act to raise the bar for high school graduation. It’s time to require all high school students to take a more rigorous core curriculum. ...

"Here’s the plan: First, require all students to take rigorous course work that will prepare them for the workforce or college – this means four years of math, including Algebra II; three years of science, including biology, chemistry and physics. ...

"Some will say that to implement this new core curriculum we need more and better-trained math and science teachers. And I agree. I commend the Speaker for proposing tuition incentives to increase the number of science, technology, engineering and math graduates. And I urge that math and science teachers be included in this plan."

Rhode Island

Gov. Donald Carcieri, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 25, 2006

"I’ll start tonight with our economic strategy. Science and technology are keys to higher paying jobs. Nine months ago, I created a Science and Technology Advisory Council composed of world-class leaders in science and business. Just days ago, that group made a number of recommendations to me, to guide Rhode Island in creating a vibrant innovation economy [Ed. note: See the Jan. 23 issue of the Digest]. This is our Action Plan:

"First, we must expand the research capacity of our universities and strengthen our ability to attract top notch scientists. Under the leadership of my Science Council, the federal government recently awarded us more than $6 million in new research grants. The state will supplement this for a total pool of $10 million. This fund is to stimulate new ideas for businesses and build a foundation for the jobs of tomorrow.

"Second, we intend to make unprecedented investments in research at U.R.I. Along with University leaders, I am asking the voters to approve a bold vision for a $140M science center. With this investment, we can make the university a leader in important fields like chemistry, pharmacy, and nursing. Last year’s investment is Dr. Ballard’s Inner Space Center, at the Graduate School of Oceanography, has already positioned the Ocean State as the International Center for Ocean Exploration.

"Third, we must enact a Science and Technology Tax Credit. This credit is geared to stimulate investment in high-tech startups and attract to Rhode Island the entrepreneurs who create high paying jobs.

"Finally, Rhode Island is poised to become the first state in the nation to be wireless border to border. The opportunities for business, healthcare and education are limitless. It requires a public investment, but promises to pay off in the future with new jobs.

"To fuel that economy we are implementing programs to significantly upgrade our students’ preparation in math and science. Following on last year’s State of the State Address I established and co-chaired a Blue Ribbon Panel on Mathematics and Science Education. That panel was made up of education and business leaders from around the state.

"This summer, the panel made several recommendations to me that will make Rhode Island schools national leaders in science, math, and technology. To accomplish those, I propose $15 million in targeted investments that will: Improve coordination and collaboration between schools, colleges and employers; Attract more people to teach math and science; Improve teacher training in math and science, especially at the elementary level; and, Provide increased opportunities for all of our students to engage in more rigorous programs of study. ...

"... At present, Rhode Island has no major source of energy. We produce no oil or natural gas. My goal is to use wind power to produce 15 percent of Rhode Island’s energy needs. And my administration is already working hard to make this a reality."

Vermont

Gov. Jim Douglas, Budget Address, Jan. 17, 2006

"To ensure that we have the high quality jobs and workers necessary to sustain a vibrant economy and ensure that prosperity grows with each generation, I am proposing Next Generation investments in the maintenance and expansion of the Green Valley a robust, sustainable, environmental technologies sector.

"These investments total $3 million and would be allocated equally to the University of Vermont to invest in technology transfer and job creation in the field of advanced sustainable environmental technologies; to the Vermont State Colleges to invest in workforce development and skills programs that will bolster economic growth in this sector; and to the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation for programs to encourage and prepare more high school graduates to attend college.

"To prepare more Vermonters with the skills to compete in our new economy, I am proposing a $400,000 increase to the Vermont Training Program. In addition, I propose to increase the state’s commitment to the Regional Development Corporations. These teams will continue to be instrumental in recruiting employers to Vermont and facilitating the growth and expansion of those already here. ...

"... For Vermont to be the location of choice for growing companies, we must drive forward with the expansion of wireless communication and broadband systems...To this end, my budget includes resources for the Connect Vermont project. With over $8 million from the federal government, coupled with a contribution from the state, we can deliver a fiber optic backbone along interstate corridors to which branches can be attached for broadband service to communities, and to which cellular services can be connected to complete coverage on our primary highway arteries.

"I am also proposing in the capital bill an appropriation of $200,000 for grants that will spark the development of wireless services in rural communities. ...

"... In addition, my budget includes $3 million for start-up funding for the Vermont Promise Scholarship program ­- the cornerstone of my effort to make college affordable for more Vermonters and encourage our young people to stay in Vermont."