Tech Talkin' Govs: The Inaugural, Budget and State-of-the-State Addresses

Arizona

Gov. Janet Napolitano, State of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2004

"The Governor's Council on Innovation and Technology recently released a blueprint for developing Arizona's tech industries, so that we can become pace setters in an increasingly competitive arena. [Note: See the Jan. 9 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest for details.]

"I plan to implement this strategy, which includes a package of legislation to establish early stage and venture capital investments in Arizona's growing innovative industry sectors. We must invest in these high-tech sectors and in our rural economies, to ensure growth in the number of high-paying jobs in Arizona. My legislation will help us to do just that, and it will not require money from the General Fund in 2005.

"More than 20 states have made similar investments, and we must do the same if we are to compete for the future."

Colorado

Gov. Bill Owens, State of the State Address, Jan. 8, 2004

"Contrast the solid return on our tourism investment with the unacceptable record of the CAPCO program. By any measure the CAPCO program has failed. The state auditor's recent report on the program is very compelling:

• Fact: the insurance companies collected nearly $ 1 million more in fees than they invested in venture capital.
• Fact: the state auditor could not verify the CAPCO companies' claims about the alleged number of jobs created.
• Fact: Nearly half a million in taxpayer money went to lobbying fees. I guess that at least supports 'job retention.'

"Friends, all of us here are for economic development. But what separates us from the CAPCO advocates is that we want economic development for Colorado. We want new jobs and new companies on the West Slope, not the west side of Manhattan. We want innovation in the Tech Center, not Rockefeller Center.

"We can't mend this program. We must end this program."

Georgia

Gov. Sonny Perdue, State of the State Address, Jan. 14, 2004

"Computers and information technology reshaped the 20th century economy. In the 21st century, the most dramatic changes will be in the life sciences and nanotechnology. And I want Georgia to be in the driver's seat. That means building the laboratories that will attract top researchers. Their breakthroughs will lead to new products, new companies, and high-paying new jobs.

"The Georgia Works bond package includes $10 million for a state-of-the-art biological research building at the University of Georgia. It provides $5 million for the Medical College of Georgia Research Initiative that will launch new medical research projects and attract more federal research dollars. And we're putting $2 million toward a $45 million state commitment to construct a world class Nanotechnology Research Center at Georgia Tech.

"Nanotechnology – the engineering and building of products at the atomic level – is projected to be a $1 trillion industry within twelve years. I want Georgia to be a world leader in creating this new industry."

Indiana

Gov. Joseph Kernan, State of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2003

"Indiana manufacturing is a strength, not a weakness, as some have suggested. We must seize the opportunity to make Indiana even more competitive, with support for initiatives such as Purdue's Advanced Manufacturing Institute. As we strive to create more jobs in the future, we will not abandon one of the best workforces in the world...

"We will assist women and minority owned businesses to get certified and gain access to capital.

"And fundamental to our success is the continued collaboration between industry and our world-class colleges and universities to transform ideas and technologies into new products, new services, and new jobs."

Iowa

Gov. Tom Vilsack, Condition of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2004

"The vital work of the Grow Iowa Values Fund must continue, but under its current structure, assurances for funding remains guaranteed for only two of the seven years of the fund... The timid and the hesitant never lead a transformation. The better future belongs to those with faith in the future. Members of the General Assembly, finish the good work you started last year by eliminating any conditions on future funding for the Values Fund. Guarantee these funds for the full seven years of the program – and watch Iowa grow."

Kansas

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, State of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2004

"...over the course of the summer and fall, led by Lieutenant Governor John Moore, we convened prosperity summits across the state. Nearly 2,000 business professionals, community leaders, and educators shared their ideas for building and sustaining a 21st Century economy in Kansas.

"Those ideas became the framework of a regional economic strategy that you will have an opportunity to endorse this session. Our Economic Revitalization Plan focuses new resources on six goals: creating and retaining jobs, expanding the biosciences industry, providing start-up capital for new businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship in rural areas, linking our workforce development programs to the needs of business and industry, and enhancing the state's image.

"Our plan includes a proposal to modernize our tax incentive programs to make them work better for the businesses they are designed to serve. With these changes, Kansas will compete more effectively for jobs and attract companies that offer the best-paying jobs. Under our plan, high potential start-up companies can sell their tax credits to already established businesses. It's a classic win-win situation: start-up businesses receive needed infusions of cash and already profitable Kansas companies save money.

"The Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, key legislators, and the Department of Commerce are working on an aggressive initiative to make Kansas a world leader in biosciences. We must build on the unique assets in the Kansas City metropolitan area and work already underway at our research universities. For the sake of both our economy and the people whose lives will be saved by the research, we must seize this opportunity."

Kentucky

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, State of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2004

"I believe we should select priorities that move us toward a goal we all agree on: creating new economic opportunity... Kentucky's economy will always include agriculture, mining and manufacturing, but high-tech is where the next generation of jobs lies, including advanced agriculture, manufacturing, clean coal technology, biotech and other knowledge-based industries. That's why I've embraced the forward-looking work of the Office of the New Economy and connectkentucky to expand Internet access, because if we want to compete in the new economy, we have to be a wired state...

"And, as I have pledged, we are going to bring a federal research lab to Kentucky."

New Jersey

Gov. James McGreevey, State of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2004

"We have to make sure our high schools, our system of higher education, the private sector and government all work together to create a better trained workforce... Today I have presented a plan to the Legislature to restructure workforce development in New Jersey through a single department — the new Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This new department will have a single task. Whether someone is unemployed or underemployed, a high school graduate or a Ph.D., we are going to provide the skills they need and our economy demands.

"...to move to the next level, to compete with Massachusetts and California, the research in our public universities must become a catalyst for the private sector. I have asked each of the public research universities to...present a plan that eliminates the institutional barriers that prevent the enhanced research and teaching opportunities that our state desperately needs.

"Today, I am proposing the creation of three Innovation Zones that will build industry clusters around our public research universities. These initiatives will use tax credits and financial incentives to facilitate collaboration and the transfer of innovative discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace.

"...And to keep small manufacturers competitive, we are going to provide additional incentives to modernize their plants and equipment."

Washington

Gov. Gary Locke, State of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2004

"This session, I am proposing to extend our gains in key areas: 1) Creating jobs through tax incentives for R&D and jobs in rural areas, and tools for all communities to accelerate economic growth....

"Our colleges and universities are powerful engines of economic development. They have spawned industries of the future in advanced computing, biotechnology, advanced materials, and environmental technology. Industries that have created thousands of jobs already. And will provide thousands more in the future. The investments we make in these technology areas through targeted tax incentives will fuel this growth.

"We must play to our strengths in these areas with initiatives like Bio 21. Bio 21 is a public-private, non-profit partnership that will further fund our state’s outstanding research capacity in biotechnology and information technology. This initiative merges and builds on these two great strengths to cure diseases and promote medical breakthroughs. It establishes Washington as a global leader in computer and biological sciences. Bio 21 has enormous potential to create new industries and thousands of good-paying jobs for our state."

West Virginia

Gov. Bob Wise, State of the State Address, Jan. 14, 2004

"We must continue the progress we've made with the Vision Shared initiatives — a massive undertaking bringing together business, labor and government to find real solutions to our economic problems. There are three Vision Shared proposals this year — an improved research and development tax credit; better access to borrowing for companies with innovative ideas; and elimination of the Civil War-era paperwork requirements on corporations.

"We must create a landmark research program to allow West Virginia to compete for jobs in industries in the future. Our universities need a steady dependable revenue stream of research funds, and it needs to be more than one year. We have to show we are serious about research. Tonight, I am urging you to establish such a fund. We will start with an additional $10 million; expand the Research Challenge Grant Program; hire top-quality faculty and researchers; purchase cutting-edge equipment; and create research opportunities for students.

"We will support research that is directly tied to West Virginia's economic development. At least 25 percent of it will be earmarked for energy research.

"I also am proposing legislation to create a Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship Program to keep more of our outstanding undergraduates in state and attract more graduate students from other states."