Tech-talkin' Govs: State of the State Addresses and Budget Requests

The third part in a series, "Tech-talkin Govs" highlights programs, policies and issues in tech-based economic development that were considered in the following governors' State of the State and Budget addresses.



California

Gray Davis, 2002-2003 Budget proposal, January 2002

http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/Budget02-03/00_toc.htm

• $75 million for purchase of science lab equipment and materials for grades 7-12.
• A $4 million appropriation to continue the HighTech High School Program, which provides five matching grants totaling $2 million each over two years.
• Reductions in the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency beginning in 2002-2003 include: $600,000 from the Manufacturing Technology Program, leaving $5.4 million intact; and $1 million each from the Next Generation Internet Program and the Rural Ecommerce Grant Program, maintaining half of the third-year funding for each program.
• Consolidate all existing job training programs that provide core employment services, economic development, and job training services to special populations under the auspices of a proposed new Labor Agency. The Labor Agency would consist of the Employment Development Department and the Department of Industrial Relations, and their associated boards and commissions, the Workforce Investment Board, and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board.

Delaware

Ruth Ann Minner, Budget Address, January 24, 2002

http://www.state.de.us/governor/speeches/2002/012402-Budget.htm

• In the face of $200 million in budget cuts, fully funded the Strategic Fund (which Gov. Minner proposed be focused on biotechnology in her State of the State Address on January 17, 2002) at $10 million.

Georgia

Roy Barnes, Budget Address, January 16, 2002

http://www.gagovernor.org/speech

• Georgia's 34 universities and colleges have developed programs to promote economic development, including the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP). Institutions are teamed with new or existing companies to create training programs that provide highly skilled workers to meet specific needs, especially in the information technology field. The Governor recommended an additional $1.5 million to expand the program into the health care arena, bringing the state's total investment in ICAPP to $4.6 million.
• Recommended $2.8 million, along with a combination of $7 million in bonds and general funds in the FY2002 amended budget, to provide a permanent home for Yamacraw and continue to grow the broadband industry in Georgia.
• The budget request also includes $3 million for a biotech venture capital fund through Yamacraw.

Kentucky

Paul Patton, Budget Address, January 22, 2002

http://gov.state.ky.us/speeches/2002budget.htm

• Proposed continuing the Bucks for Brains program at the level of $100 million for the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville and $20 million for the six comprehensive universities.

Michigan

John Engler, State of the State, January 23, 2002

http://www.michigan.gov/gov/1,1431,7-103-705-9483--M,00.html

• Urged passage of MI HiSpeed Internet plan. The plan, which would accelerate the deployment of broadband statewide, is expected to help create more than 500,000 new jobs and more than $440 billion in additional economic output. 
• Stating that "it is no longer a question of whether, but when, we will leave behind an economy powered primarily by fossil fuels," Governor Engler said he wants Michigan to be prepared for new vehicles which will require a new generation of engineers, plants, and workers. In the next 60 days, he will propose steps to be taken to ensure Michigan's preeminence in the global auto industry — fuel cell technology in particular. The agenda will address a number of key issues, including taxes, regulations, new infrastructure, intellectual property, research and development.

New York

George Pataki, Budget Address, January 22,2002

http://www.state.ny.us/budget2002/budget2002text.html

• Consistent with his State of the State Address (covered in the Jan. 11, 2002, issue of the Digest), the budget request provides $250 million in funding to support Centers of Excellence for bioinformatics in Buffalo, photonics in Rochester, nanoelectronics in Albany, and information technology on Long Island. This investment would allow pursuit of promising new biotech opportunities around the state — in Cold Spring Harbor, in a new biotech corridor in New York City, and in Rochester.

Oregon

John Kitzhaber, Budget Address, January 23, 2002

http://www.governor.state.or.us/governor/speeches/s020123.htm

• Recommended a $112 million cut in state support for schools in the K-12 system, rather than the $152 million cut contained in the legislative proposal.
• Reduced the legislatively proposed cut to the Oregon Health Sciences University from $33 million down to $5 million.

Vermont

Howard Dean, Budget Address, January 22, 2002

http://www.gov.state.vt.us/press_release.php3?display_num=17

• Asked that, in 2003, the money cut from the higher education budget as a result of the rescission be restored and an additional 2 percent increase be approved. Combined, these changes would mean a 4.6 percent increase in funding for higher education in Vermont.
  California