REMARKS PREPARED
FOR
IOWA’S
CONDITION OF THE STATE
By Governor
Thomas J. Vilsack
January 11, 2000
EMBARGOED until
10:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 11, 2000
THANK YOU, MADAME
PRESIDENT, MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THANK YOU DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
DURING THE LAST
YEAR, THE LT. GOVERNOR, THE FIRST LADY AND I EXPERIENCED THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS STATE.
WE LOOKED AT THE FACES OF IOWANS STRUCK BY DEVASTATING TORNADOES, FLOODS AND DROUGHTS—AND
WE SAW DETERMINATION. WE LOOKED INTO THE FACES OF IOWANS WHO FARM THE LAND, CONCERNED
ABOUT WHETHER THEIR WAY OF LIFE WOULD CONTINUE—AND WE SAW CHARACTER. WE LOOKED INTO
THE FACES OF IOWANS WHO ARE COPING WITH THE UNEXPLAINABLE TRAGEDY OF CHILDREN AND
FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED RECENTLY IN KEOKUK—AND WE SAW STRENGTH. IN ALL THOSE
EXPERIENCES, AND MANY OTHERS, WE FELT THE STRONG BONDS OF COMMUNITY. EVEN IN OUR MOST
CHALLENGING TIMES, IOWANS’ DETERMINATION, CHARACTER, STRENGTH AND DEDICATION TO
COMMUNITY TRIUMPH.
IN OUR TRAVELS
ACROSS OUR GREAT STATE, WE HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY THE RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE IN THE AIR. IT
IS OUR COLLECTIVE DESIRE TO MOVE AHEAD. IT IS A LONGING FOR GREATNESS, SO REAL YOU CAN
REACH OUT AND TOUCH IT. ALL OVER THE STATE WE SEE A NEW ERA UNFOLDING. AS IT UNFOLDS,
PEOPLE HERE, ACROSS OUR NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD RECOGNIZE THAT IOWA IS A GREAT PLACE
TO LIVE, TO WORK AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO RAISE A FAMILY.
AFTER MEETING
THESE REMARKABLE IOWANS AND COUNTLESS OTHERS, THE LT. GOVERNOR, FIRST LADY AND I ARE
CONVINCED THAT IOWA’S MOMENT TO LEAD IS NOW. QUALITY
OF LIFE IS IOWA’S PROMISE.
THE BUILDING WE
GATHER IN TODAY IS AN EMBLEM OF IOWA’S LONG-STANDING BELIEF IN GREATNESS. THOSE THAT
CAME BEFORE US MADE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE NOT TO CONSTRUCT A PEDESTRIAN, ORDINARY CAPITOL.
THEY BUILT A SHINING EDIFICE ON A HILL, SOLID AND TIMELESS. A SPECIAL BUILDING FOR A
SPECIAL PEOPLE; A SPECIAL PLACE TO WRITE SPECIAL LAWS. IN THE PAST DECADES, THIS BUILDING
FELL VICTIM TO COMPLACENCY. THE PLASTER CRACKED, THE ORNAMENT CRUMBLED. BUT OUR GENERATION
OF IOWANS REJECTED COMPLACENCY AND ERECTED SCAFFOLDING TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. BUILDING ON
A SOLID FOUNDATION, WE RESTORE THIS BUILDING TO GREATNESS.
FOR IOWA TO REACH
ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL, WE TOO MUST BUILD ON OUR STRENGTHS WITH CLEAR GOALS IN MIND.
ESTABLISHING CLEAR GOALS BEGINS BY AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE ARE.
IN THE PAST YEAR,
THE IOWA 2010 STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP HAS DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB OF OUTLINING WHERE THIS
STATE IS AND WHERE IT IS HEADED. THE GROUP’S WORK INDICATES THAT WITHOUT BOLD ACTION,
IOWA RISKS SECOND-BEST STATUS.
OUR CHALLENGE IS
DEMOGRAPHIC. WE KNOW THE STATISTICS ALL TOO WELL. MORE
THAN HALF OF OUR COUNTIES HAD THEIR POPULATION PEAK IN THE YEAR 1900 -- ONE HUNDRED YEARS
AGO. OUR PRESENT POPULATION GROWS AT A RATE ONE-FOURTH THAT OF THE NATION AS A WHOLE. AT
CURRENT GROWTH RATES, WE WILL NOT RETURN TO OUR 1980 POPULATION UNTIL THE YEAR 2010--
THIRTY YEARS TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE. SKILLED WORKER SHORTAGES REFLECT THE IMPACT OF
THIS STAGNANT GROWTH.
TO MAKE THE
SITUATION MORE DAUNTING, OUR GROWTH SECTORS INVOLVE IOWANS NO LONGER IN THE WORKFORCE. THE
FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION TODAY IS PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 100. FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN OUR STATE’S HISTORY, SINCE WE BEGAN KEEPING TRACK, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE
OVER THE AGE OF 74 THAN WE HAVE AGE OF FIVE OR UNDER.
AS WE HAVE
STRUGGLED WITH THESE DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS, WE ALSO HAVE STRUGGLED TO INCREASE PER CAPITA AND
FAMILY INCOMES. IOWA RANKS AT THE BOTTOM THIRD OF STATES IN PER CAPITA INCOME—A
RANKING THAT CONSISTENTLY CORRESPONDS WITH THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR WORKFORCE THAT HOLDS A
COLLEGE DEGREE. SIMPLY PUT, THESE STATISTICS
AND OTHERS POINT TO THREE KEY GOALS THAT MUST BE REACHED TO REALIZE IOWA’S PROMISE.
WE NEED MORE
IOWANS. WE NEED YOUNGER IOWANS. WE NEED BETTER PAID IOWANS.
FOR THE PAST
SIX MONTHS, THE LT. GOVERNOR AND I HAVE CHALLENGED OUR STAFF AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE
GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS ON THESE GOALS AND TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND BUDGET PRIORITIES AIMED AT
ACHIEVING THESE GOALS. WE’VE ALSO ENCOURAGED THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL IOWANS THROUGH
THE 2010 STRATEGIC PLANNING COUNCIL EFFORTS AND TWO WEEKS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET
HELD AT LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE. THROUGH THIS INCLUSIVE PROCESS, WE DEVELOPED THE
AGENDA WE OUTLINE FOR YOU TODAY - AN IOWA QUALITY OF LIFE AGENDA THAT BUILDS AND IMPROVES
UPON OUR ALREADY GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE. IOWANS WILL BE BETTER EDUCATED AND HEALTHIER.
IOWANS WILL ENJOY CLEANER AIR AND WATER AND THE BENEFITS OF RICHER SOIL. IOWANS WILL
EXPERIENCE VALUE-ADDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND FEEL MORE SECURE IN THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS
AND COMMUNITIES, AND IOWANS WILL BE SERVED BY A RESPONSIBLE, ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT.
THE BUDGET
PRESENTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FUNDS THESE PRIORITIES WHILE RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO
LIMIT GENERAL FUND SPENDING THIS YEAR. WE TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR COLLECTIVE DUTY TO BE
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. WHEN REVENUES IN THE CURRENT YEAR DIDN’T INCREASE AS EXPECTED,
WE CALLED FOR BUDGET CUTS AND SPENDING REDUCTIONS. AS
PART OF OUR BUDGET, WE HAVE ALREADY PRESENTED TO YOU A DE-APPROPRIATIONS BILL. WE ASK YOU
FOR QUICK AND SPEEDY ACTION ON THE BILL. I HAVE APPRECIATED THE COOPERATION EXHIBITED BY
LEADERS OF BOTH CHAMBERS AND BOTH PARTIES AS CUTS AND REDUCTIONS WERE IDENTIFIED FOR
CONSIDERATION. LET US CONTINUE THAT WORK TOGETHER. WORKING TOGETHER, I KNOW OF NO REASON
WHY THAT BILL COULD NOT BE SIGNED ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.
ORDINARILY, A
BUDGET-CUTTING YEAR WOULD BE A VERY BAD TIME TO PRESENT AN AGGRESSIVE LIST OF NEW IDEAS. I
CAN ALREADY HEAR THE OBJECTIONS. BUT OUR
ADMINISTRATION HAS A DIFFERENT APPROACH. THIS YEAR, WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE BASICS –
THE THREE R’S.
THE THREE R’S
I AM TALKING ABOUT ARE NOT READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC.
OUR THREE R’S
ARE REDUCE, REALLOCATE, AND REDOUBLE. STATE
AGENCIES HAVE IDENTIFIED $30 MILLION IN REDUCTIONS THEY ARE READY TO MAKE. THEY ALSO WILL REALLOCATE CURRENT DOLLARS TO FUND
PRIORITIES BY UNDERTAKING HARD-NOSED EVALUATIONS OF HOW FUNDS CAN BE BETTER SPENT. AS FOR REDOUBLING, STATE AGENCIES ARE WORKING
SMARTER THAN EVER TO FIND OTHER SOURCES OF MONEY TO FUND NEW PROGRAMS—FROM FEDERAL
AGENCIES, TO PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS.
THE BUDGET WE ARE
PRESENTING ASSUMES A GENERAL FUND REVENUE GROWTH RATE OF 4.2% AND A GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURE RATE OF 2.8%. OUR BUDGET IS
BALANCED, IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND CALLS FOR NO NEW TAXES.
LAST YEAR,
WORKING TOGETHER, WE MADE A DOWN PAYMENT ON BETTER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR IOWA’S
STUDENTS WITH THE CLASS SIZE REDUCTION READING INITIATIVE, BY INCREASING ALLOWABLE GROWTH
AND BY FULLY FUNDING THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FORMULA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT MEMORY. WE RECOMMEND AN ALLOWABLE GROWTH RATE OF 4% FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2002 AND AN ADDITIONAL $8.9 MILLION IN NEW RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. BUT, WE PLEDGE TO DO MORE.
WE PLEDGE TO DO
MORE BECAUSE IOWA PRIDES ITSELF ON QUALITY SCHOOLS - FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.
THE CHALLENGE OF A GLOBAL ECONOMY WILL ONLY BE MET BY WELL-EDUCATED PEOPLE. PAST SUCCESS DOES NOT JUSTIFY A LACK OF ACTION. DECLINING TEST SCORES WARN US OF THE PRICE OF
COMPLACENCY.
TO REVERSE THAT
DECLINE, EMPHASIS MUST BE PLACED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. IOWA MUST BE THE LEADER, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
LEADER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. BRAIN
RESEARCH NOW PROVES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST YEARS OF LIFE IN THE LEARNING PROCESS. PARENTS MUST BE THEIR CHILD’S FIRST AND BEST
TEACHER. CHILD CARE PROVIDERS MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE THEIR IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE
LEARNING PROCESS.
OUR CHILDREN
ARE ENTITLED TO A GREAT START. WE PROPOSE
INCREASED FUNDING TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO
QUALITY CHILD CARE. LET US PLEDGE TOGETHER TO REWRITE THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE
EDUCATIONAL GOAL. TODAY IT READS THAT EVERY
CHILD SHOULD BE READY TO LEARN BY THE TIME HE OR SHE REACHES KINDERGARTEN. TOMORROW, LET IT READ THAT IN IOWA, AS A RESULT OF
OUR EFFORTS, EVERY CHILD SHALL BEGIN LEARNING AT BIRTH AND BE READY TO LEARN MORE BY THE
TIME HE OR SHE REACHES KINDERGARTEN.
AS CHILDREN ENTER
IOWA SCHOOLS, THEY WILL EXPERIENCE SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND WELL-WIRED SCHOOLS. BUT, A
GREAT EDUCATION REQUIRES MORE. POORLY PAID TEACHERS AND CRUMBLING SCHOOL BUILDINGS
UNDERMINE OUR PAST EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. TODAY, I ANNOUNCE AN ACCELERATION AND EXPANSION OF
OUR EFFORTS TO RECRUIT, EDUCATE AND RETAIN QUALITY TEACHERS. IN THE REAL WORLD, WE
CONTINUE TO LOSE MANY OF OUR BRIGHTEST AND OUR BEST TEACHERS TO OTHER STATES, WHO OFFER
INCENTIVES OR HIGHER PAY OR TO OTHER PROFESSIONS THAT DO LIKEWISE. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD
TO IGNORE THE COMPETITION. OFFICIALS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA AND MANY OF THE
PRIVATE COLLEGES KNOW ALL TO WELL HOW MANY POTENTIALLY GOOD TEACHERS WE LOSE EACH YEAR.
FIRST, I AM
ASKING THE COUNCIL ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN EDUCATION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REVISING THE MANNER IN WHICH WE COMPENSATE TEACHERS TO ALLOW IOWA TO AGAIN BE COMPETITIVE
AND TO REPORT TO ME BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. SECOND, I’M ASKING YOU TO ESTABLISH A
FUND WITH AN APPROPRIATION OF $375,000 TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE FOR ONE OR MORE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN IMPROVED TEACHER COMPENSATION SYSTEM. THIRD, I’M
ASKING YOU TO APPROVE A TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR THREE YEARS THAT WILL HELP SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS, THAT ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME RECRUITING
QUALITY TEACHERS TO THEIR DISTRICTS. FINALLY, I AM ASKING YOU TO ADOPT CHANGES IN IPERS,
INCLUDING THE RULE OF 85, THAT WILL ENABLE TEACHERS INTERESTED IN RETIRING TO DO SO,
THEREBY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE OVERALL PAY TO THE STATE’S TEACHERS.
OUR CHILDREN
CAN NOT AFFORD TO WAIT ANY LONGER FOR US TO ACT. THESE
STEPS WILL ENABLE US TO BETTER COMPETE FOR TALENT, BUT WE MUST NOT STOP THERE. WE MUST
INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE TEACHER INDUCTION PROGRAM THAT WILL ENSURE STATEWIDE APPLICATION
OF A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS. EXTENSIVE MENTORING RESULTS IN HIGHER
TEACHER SATISFACTION, WHICH IN TURN MEANS BETTER RETENTION OF QUALITY TEACHERS. AFTER
INVESTING SO MUCH IN QUALITY TEACHERS, WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE THEM AFTER ONLY A FEW
YEARS OF TEACHING.
QUALITY TEACHERS
WITH SMALLER CLASSES AND UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY MEAN LITTLE IF SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE UNSAFE
OR ARE IN POOR CONDITION. IOWA REMAINS ONE OF
ONLY TEN STATES THAT FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO DISTRICTS FOR BUILDING
MAINTENANCE, REPAIR OR CONSTRUCTION. OUR
STATE OUGHT TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACED WITH SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AND
SIGNIFICANT BUILDING NEEDS. WE MUST RECOGNIZE
THAT SOME DISTRICTS SIMPLY CAN NOT DO IT ALONE.
TODAY, WE PROPOSE
USING $100,000,000 OF OUR $300,000,000 FUND TO BEGIN ADDRESSING SAFETY ISSUES AND OTHER
BUILDING NEEDS. ALONG WITH SAFER, BETTER
SCHOOLS, IOWANS SEEKING KNOWLEDGE WILL EXPERIENCE AN ENRICHED IOWA THROUGH BETTER
LIBRARIES AND LITERATE COMMUNITIES. THE FIRST LADY HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR
LIBRARIES THIS PAST YEAR, VISITING LIBRARIES LARGE AND SMALL. SHE INTENDS TO VISIT EVERY
LIBRARY IN THE STATE, AND IS WELL ON HER WAY. HER STORIES 2000 INITIATIVE WILL EXPAND ON
THE THEME OF LITERATE COMMUNITIES. THIS INITIATIVE UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
AND STORYTELLING EARLY IN LIFE AND THROUGHOUT LIFE. IT STRENGTHENS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
IDENTITY AND HELPS PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO READ.
WE MUST ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY WILL NOT BE CONFINED TO A SINGLE
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. LEARNING IN THIS CENTURY
SHOULD TAKE PLACE ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, FOR ANYBODY. ACCESS TO WELL-ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS SHOULD BE ONLY A CLICK AWAY. IOWA
SHOULD LEAD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT DELIVERS SUCH INFORMATION. WE PROPOSE AN APPROPRIATION TO BEGIN THE BUILDING
OF THIS 21ST CENTURY LEARNING COMMUNITY. LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION REQUIRES
NOTHING LESS.
IOWA CAN SEIZE
THIS MOMENT AND BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER IN EDUCATION. BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN UNPARALLELED
OPPORTUNITY TO BE A NATIONAL LEADER IN HEALTH CARE—SPECIFICALLY, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH
CARE. THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT PRESENTS US WITH
A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND LONG-LASTING. WE COULD,
GIVEN THE TIGHT GENERAL FUND, USE ALL OF THESE FUNDS TO CAVE IN TO THE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL
PRESSURES AND AVOID HAVING TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES, OR WE COULD DRIBBLE IT OUT IN A BROAD
ARRAY OF TAX CUTS, LOSING FOREVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE HEALTH CARE DOLLARS IN THE
FUTURE AND MAKE IOWA A HEALTHIER STATE. HOW WE DECIDE TO INVEST THESE SETTLEMENT FUNDS
WILL SAY MUCH ABOUT OUR COLLECTIVE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF IOWANS. LET US JOIN TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER IOWA TODAY,
WHERE DISEASE, ILLNESS AND THE AFTER-EFFECTS ARE PROPERLY TREATED OR PREVENTED.
WHERE THE STRESS AND BURDEN OF ILLNESS AND DISEASE
EXPERIENCED BY MANY IOWA FAMILIES IS RELIEVED. UNDER
OUR PROPOSAL, FOR EVERY $1.00 INVESTED WE RECEIVE $2.00 FROM OTHER SOURCES AND OVER TIME
WE SAVE THE COST OF THIS PROGAM. HOW CAN THAT
BE DONE? BY INVESTING OUR FUNDS IN:
1.
EDUCATING YOUNG
PEOPLE TO STOP OR CONVINCE THEM TO STOP SMOKING THROUGH AN AGGRESSIVE ANTI-TOBACCO AND
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM AS PROPOSED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM MILLER;
2.
HELPING IOWA’S
WORKING FAMILIES PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH HAWK-I INSURANCE AND
EXPANDED MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY;
3.
EXTENDING THE
TIME OF RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTS;
4.
EXPANDING RESPITE
CARE FOR FAMILIES COPING WITH THE DIFFICULT TASK OF CARING FOR A LOVED ONE WHO IS
PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY CHALLENGED, INCLUDING BRAIN INJURED LOVED ONES;
5.
CREATING BETTER
ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE THROUGH STRONGER PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES FROM A VARIETY OF HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL BE BETTER COMPENSATED FOR THEIR EFFORTS; AND,
6.
RESPONDING TO THE
OLDER IOWAN’S NUMBER ONE LEGISLATIVE GOAL BY DEVELOPING A HIGH QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE
CARE SYSTEM FOR OLDER IOWANS NEEDING HOME HEALTH CARE, ASSISTED LIVING, OR NURSING HOME
CARE THAT INSURES THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THIS MOST
IMPORTANT GROUP OF IOWANS.
FINALLY, IF WE
ARE TO LEAD IN HEALTH CARE, WE MUST ERASE THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS. MENTAL ILLNESS
AFFECTS ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR IOWA FAMILIES. A BETTER PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MUST BE
DEVELOPED IF WE ARE TO PROPERLY AND PROMPTLY TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS. IOWA IS THE NATION’S INSURANCE CAPITAL. IN
THAT CAPACITY, OUR STATE HAS THE UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD—AND
LEAD WE WILL WHEN WE ESTABLISH FULL PARITY FOR MENTAL ILLNESS COVERAGES IN INSURANCE
POLICIES. PARITY’S TIME IN IOWA HAS COME.
HOWEVER, BEING A
NATIONAL LEADER IN EDUCATION OR PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE WILL MEAN LITTLE IF WE CAN NOT
DRINK THE WATER OR BREATHE THE AIR. ALDO
LEOPOLD ONCE SAID THAT “WE ABUSE THE LAND BECAUSE WE REGARD IT AS A COMMODITY
BELONGING TO US. WHEN WE SEE THE LAND AS A
COMMUNITY TO WHICH WE BELONG, WE MAY BEGIN TO USE IT WITH LOVE AND RESPECT.” WE FACE A SEVERE THREAT TO WATER QUALITY FROM THE
159 POLLUTED WATERWAYS THAT CRISSCROSS OUR STATE. WE CLEAN UP THESE WATERWAYS BY
RECOGNIZING WHAT THE LAND AND WATER ARE TO ALL OF US - THE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR
STATE. WE MUST INVEST IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, IN OUR WORKING LAND . OUR CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE PROPOSES TO DO JUST
THAT. FOR A SMALL INVESTMENT OF STATE
DOLLARS, WE LEVERAGE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE FORM OF
INCENTIVES FOR FARMER PARTICIPATION IN PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, INVESTING IN
VEGETATIVE BUFFERS, FIELD BORDERS, WETLAND PROTECTION AND SOIL CONSERVATION.
THE CLEAN WATER
INITIATIVE WE PROPOSE IS A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE AND BUILDS ON WHAT WE KNOW WORKS. FULLY FUND THE CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE AND WATCH
THE NATIVE PRAIRIE GRASSES GROW AND BECOME HOME TO NATURAL HABITAT THAT WILL DRAW PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. FULLY FUND THE CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE AND MEASURE THE
IMPROVEMENT OF OUR WATER. FULLY FUND THE
CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE AND WELCOME MORE PROSPERITY BACK TO RURAL IOWA. THIS CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE WILL ESTABLISH IOWA AS
A NATIONAL LEADER IN PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION.
ONE OTHER PROGRAM
ALSO MUST BE FULLY FUNDED TO IMPROVE IOWA’S ENVIRONMENT. ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME TO FULFILL THE PROMISE
MADE TO THE PEOPLE OF IOWA IN THE LAST CENTURY, IN THE LAST MILLENNIUM, SHOULDN’T WE
FINALLY FUND REAP AT $20 MILLION?
LEADERSHIP
INVOLVES ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING SOLUTIONS TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE UNSOLVABLE
PROBLEMS. LEADERSHIP IN LAND STEWARDSHIP AND THE ENVIRONMENT MANDATES THAT WE RESOLVE THE
HOG LOT ISSUE IN OUR STATE. WE AGAIN PROPOSE A REASONABLE SOLUTION - STATEWIDE STANDARDS
BASED ON SOUND SCIENCE WITH MODIFICATIONS ALLOWED BASED ON A COUNTY’S LAND USE PLANS.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOLS AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS
TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT A BROAD ARRAY OF HUMAN SERVICES. AREN’T LOCAL OFFICIALS AS
QUALIFIED TO HELP MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR ENVIRONMENT? LET’S FIND A WAY TO GIVE
LOCAL CONTROL TO THE SITING AND LOCATION OF LARGE LIVESTOCK FACILITIES.
IT CAN BE
DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARE STANDING AT THE BEGINNING OF A SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION. WHEN JOHN ATANASOFF AND CLIFFORD BERRY PUT
TOGETHER THE WORLD’S FIRST DIGITAL COMPUTER IN AMES IN 1939, IT WAS DOUBTFUL THAT
THEY KNEW. LIKEWISE, THE SCIENTISTS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE AROUND THIS STATE WHO ARE ENTERING
A GOLDEN AGE OF DISCOVERY IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROBABLY CAN’T REALIZE THE FUTURE
RAMIFICATIONS OF THEIR WORK. BUT AS I TRAVEL TO THE BIOCATASIS LABORATORY IN IOWA CITY,
AND HEAR THE PLANS FOR THE NEW PLANT SCIENCES CENTER AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND SEE THE
NEW, LEADING-EDGE COMPANIES THAT USE PLANTS AND ANIMALS FOR PRODUCTS RANGING FROM FUELS,
FIBERS, TO PHARMACY PRODUCTS, I CAN SENSE THAT IOWA IS UNIQUELY POISED TO BECOME THE
EPICENTER OF A NEW WORLD FOOD ECONOMY.
ARE WE AS A STATE
GOING TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND BECOME THE FOOD CAPITAL OF THE WORLD? IT MAKES SENSE
FOR US TO DO SO. WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL
INNOVATION.
LET US CONTINUE
OUR QUEST FOR LEADERSHIP AND GREATNESS IN THIS SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION BY INCREASING FUNDING
FOR THE PLANT SCIENCE CENTER AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND BY IMPROVING THE BIOLOGY
PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA AND THE BIOLOGY INSTRUCTION PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
NORTHERN IOWA. WORKING WITH JOHN PAPPAJOHN
AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NATION’S BEST
PRACTICES FOR VENTURE CAPITAL. WE PRESENT THAT TO YOU AS WELL. LET US, WORKING TOGETHER,
CREATE A CLIMATE WHERE ENTREPRENEURS CAN GROW THEIR DREAMS AS EASILY AS WE GROW CORN AND
SOYBEANS.
IN DOING SO, LET
US CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT THE 60% OF THE RAW COMMODITIES GROWN IN THESE
VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS. VALUE-ADDED
AGRICULTURE IS THE KEY TO KEEPING PROFITS AND PEOPLE IN RURAL IOWA.
FOR IOWA TO
BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER IN THE NEW ECONOMY, RURAL IOWA MUST GROW AND FOR RURAL IOWA TO
GROW IT NEEDS HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS. TODAY, I CALL UPON ALL OF IOWA’S PRIVATE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES TO MEET WITH ME, THE LT. GOVERNOR AND THE STATE’S
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
LAST YEAR, THE
LT. GOVERNOR CONVENED A GROUP OF TALENTED IOWANS AND CHALLENGED THEM TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS
TO SKILLED WORKFORCE SHORTAGES. I APPRECIATE HER EFFORTS AND THE EFFORTS OF THE 21ST
CENTURY WORKFORCE COUNCIL. OUR BUDGET
REFLECTS THEIR WORK. THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED
THAT IOWA’S SKILLED WORKFORCE SHORTAGES DERIVE FROM OUR STAGNANT POPULATION., BUT
POINTED OUT THAT OUR FULL EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS ARE DECEIVING. EVEN WITH RECORD LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS ACROSS THE STATE, THERE ARE IOWA POPULATIONS EXPERIENCING HIGH RATES
OF UNEMPLOYMENT. AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE
UNEMPLOYED AT DOUBLE-DIGIT RATES. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE UNEMPLOYED AT DOUBLE-DIGIT
RATES.
WE PROPOSE THE
CREATION OF AN OPPORTUNITIES FUND THAT WOULD PROVIDE RESOURCES TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS
EXISTING TO FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE IOWANS.
AT THE START OF
THE NEW MILLENNIUM, LET US BRING IOWA’S PROMISE TO ALL OF ITS PEOPLE.
BUT, THERE IS
ANOTHER GROUP OF IOWANS THAT WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO IN OUR QUEST FOR SKILLED WORKERS—IOWA’S
AT-RISK STUDENTS. NO CHILD SHOULD BE ALLOWED
TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS BY BECOMING A HIGH-SCHOOL DROPOUT OR FAILING TO DEVELOP NEEDED
JOB SKILLS. WE ALLOCATE $9.8 MILLION FOR
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS. WE
ALSO PROPOSE THE EXPANSION OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP STARTED LAST YEAR CALLED JOBS
FOR AMERICA’S GRADUATES. THIS PROGRAM, CURRENTLY THRIVING IN 22 OTHER STATES, FOCUSES
ATTENTION AND RESOURCES ON YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE BOTTOM 20 PERCENT OF THEIR CLASS.
IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING TEENAGERS IN SCHOOL TO GRADUATE, AND THEN FOLLOWING
THROUGH FOR A YEAR AFTER GRADUATION TO ENSURE THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS AT WORK OR AT THE
NEXT LEVEL OF EDUCATION.
THERE IS MORE TO
DO. WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THE GOOD WORK YOU DID LAST YEAR IN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ENHANCED SKILLS FOR IOWA’S WORKERS AT OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THERE NEEDS TO BE GREATER FLEXIBILITY GIVEN TO THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN SPENDING THE RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ON EQUIPMENT. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE EXTENDED TO THOSE
INTERESTED IN UPGRADING THEIR SKILLS. ANY INDIVIDUAL WILLING TO WORK HARD ENOUGH TO OBTAIN
NEW SKILLS AND TO STAY IN IOWA AND USE THOSE SKILLS SHOULD NOT BE SHUT OUT BY THE COST OF
TUITION. THE CORE PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR
EDUCATION, PROPOSED IN THIS BUDGET WILL ADD THE FLEXIBILITY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
NEEDED TO MAKE A GOOD PROGRAM EVEN BETTER.
OUR SKILLED
WORKER SHORTAGE ALSO CAN BE EASED BY MAKING IOWA AN
INVITING PLACE FOR THOSE COMING TO AMERICA, DRAWN BY ITS HOPES AND DREAMS. HAD IT NOT BEEN
FOR NEWCOMERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, IOWA WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OUT-MIGRATION OF
CITIZENS IN THE LAST DECADE. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT IOWA LIVES UP TO ITS HISTORY OF A
WELCOMING STATE. TOO OFTEN, DIFFICULTIES EXIST FOR IMMIGRANTS COMING TO OUR STATE AND FOR
THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY SETTLE. MANY IOWA COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS STORM LAKE AND WEST
LIBERTY, ARE WORKING HARD ON THESE CHALLENGES. ALL OF IOWA SHOULD LEARN FROM THEIR
EXPERIENCES. WE PROPOSE DEVELOPING A NUMBER OF CENTERS FOR NEW IOWANS, RUN BY IOWA
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TO HELP FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SOLVE PROBLEMS POSED BY
IMMIGRATION.
STATE GOVERNMENT
NEEDS TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND OPERATED LIKE A BUSINESS. WE’VE STARTED BY
INITIATING A MASSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT AT REGULATORY REFORM. THIS IS JUST A
BEGINNING.
AN ACCOUNTABLE
GOVERNMENT MEANS A GOVERNMENT WHO KNOWS WHO THE BOSS REALLY IS. IT IS NOT THE IMMEDIATE
SUPERVISOR, OR THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, THE GOVERNOR OR LEGISLATIVE LEADER. IT’S THE
PEOPLE. GOVERNMENT IS OF, FOR, AND BY THE PEOPLE. TO REACH THAT GOAL, WE MUST RECONNECT
IOWANS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT BY MAKING IT AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. CURRENTLY, OUR STATE’S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SYSTEMS ARE A PATCHWORK OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT OFTEN ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH EACH OTHER
AND NOT CAPABLE OF 24/7 SERVICE. WE NEED AN IT DEPARTMENT WITH A DEDICATED, UNINTERRUPTED
AND RELIABLE FUNDING STREAM FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
DEDICATED TO PROVIDING 24/7 SERVICE.
AT THE SAME TIME,
WE MUST, AS ANY BUSINESS WOULD, BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN
OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS. WE CAN NO LONGER USE
IGNORANCE OF THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE NEEDS AS AN EXCUSE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORY
COUNCIL HAS ISSUED ITS REPORT. WE SHOULD
BEGIN NOW TO ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO START MAINTAINING WHAT WE HAVE INVESTED
MILLIONS TO BUILD.
FOR YEARS, WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW UNCOMPETITIVE OUR TAX SYSTEM IS - HOW HIGH OUR HIGHEST TAX RATE
APPEARS TO BE - HOW IT DISCOURAGES GROWTH AND EXPANSION—HOW DIFFICULT IT MAKES
RECRUITING TOP TALENT FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE. HERE AGAIN, WE HAVE A CHOICE. TO PLAY
POLITICS AS USUAL AND FAIL TO TAKE ACTION OR SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. AN
ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT DOES WHAT IS RIGHT, NOT WHAT IS POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT. LET’S
ELIMINATE OUR HIGH TAX RATES - LET’S SIMPLIFY OUR TAX SYSTEM. LET’S REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF TAX BRACKETS. LET’S ELIMINATE FEDERAL DEDUCTIBILITY AND REDUCE THE TAX
RATES. FOR THOSE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL THAT TAX
RATES WILL CREEP RIGHT BACK UP, LET’S RECOGNIZE WHO THE BOSS REALLY IS IN OUR SYSTEMS
- LET’S GIVE THE PEOPLE THE POWER TO APPROVE FUTURE TAX RATE INCREASES AT THE BALLOT
BOX.
AN ACCOUNTABLE
GOVERNMENT IS ALSO BUILT ON TRUST. WE
ESTABLISH TRUST BY GUARANTEEING THAT OUR SERVICE IS WHAT THE CUSTOMER EXPECTS - THAT IS
WHY WE PROPOSE A SERIES OF MONEY-BACK GUARANTEES FOR CERTAIN STATE SERVICES SUCH AS
LICENSES AND PERMITS TO ENSURE QUALITY AND SATISFACTION.
WE ALSO BUILD
TRUST BY THE PROCESS WE USE TO ELECT PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
IOWA NEEDS CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE AND FINANCE REFORM.
VOTERS NEED
FULLER DISCLOSURE. THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO
FIND OUT WHO IS FINANCING ANY CANDIDATE. SHOULDN’T
WE REQUIRE FULL DISCLOSURE UP TO ELECTION DAY OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES? THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHO IS PAYING
FOR THE TELEPHONE CALLS USED IN A CAMPAIGN – ESPECIALLY THOSE AWFUL PUSH POLL CALLS. SHOULD WE REQUIRE A DISCLAIMER AT THE BEGINNING
OR END OF THESE CALLS?
AT SOME POINT,
THE MONEY MADNESS IN POLITICS MUST STOP. CAMPAIGNS
FOR GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT MONEY RAISED, BUT ISSUES ANSWERED. THERE IS A BETTER WAY.
IOWA SHOULD MAKE AVAILABLE PUBLIC FUNDS, NOT FROM TAX REVENUES, BUT FROM EARNED INTEREST,
TO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR WHO VOLUNTARILY AGREE TO LIMIT THEIR SPENDING AND WHO HAVE
BROAD BASED SUPPORT. GOVERNMENT OF, BY, AND
FOR THE PEOPLE - NOT GOVERNMENT OF, BY, AND FOR THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE LAST PART OF
THE QUALITY OF LIFE AGENDA I’LL MENTION TODAY IS PERHAPS THE MOST BASIC. IT DOESN’T
DO ANY GOOD TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT, PREVENT DISEASE, AND CREATE A
LARGER AND SMARTER WORKFORCE IF OUR COMMUNITIES AREN’T SAFE. SAFE COMMUNITIES ARE ONE
OF IOWA’S BASIC STRENGTHS. TO ENSURE OUR SAFE COMMUNITIES, WE MUST REDUCE THE SUPPLY
AND DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS. I REMAIN COMMITTED TO A PLAN WE WORKED ON LAST YEAR TO FIGHT
THE METHAMPHETAMINE EPIDEMIC BY ADDING SIX NEW NARCOTICS AGENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY THIS YEAR. THESE AGENTS WILL
MAKE INROADS IN OUR WAR AGAINST METHAMPHETAMINE AND OTHER DRUGS.
WE ALSO PROPOSE
INCREASING THE STAFF FOR OUR STATE CRIMINAL LABORATORY TO AID OUR PROSECUTORS IN
INVESTIGATIONS LEADING TO CONVICTIONS. ANOTHER
TOOL IN OUR EFFORT SHOULD BE THE EXPANSION OF DRUG COURTS.
DRUG COURTS AIMED AT LOWER-RISK SUBSTANCE ABUSERS HAVE SHOWN TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN LOWERING THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM AMONG ITS GRADUATES. WE MUST INCREASE OUR
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED CORECTIONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRISON FOR LOW-RISK DRUG
ADDICTS, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OFFENSE AND PROVIDING NECESSARY TREATMENT, BUT
NOT TAKING UP PRISON BEDS, REVERSING A SITUATION IN WHICH MORE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS ARE
BEING LET OUT OF PRISON SOONER THAN IS OTHERWISE APPROPRIATE.
WE NEED TO AVOID
LOSING IOWANS, PARTICULARLY YOUNG IOWANS, TO UNTIMELY DEATHS. IT IS TRAGIC THAT CHILDREN
ARE BEING KILLED IN FIREARM ACCIDENTS. IT IS TRAGIC THAT JUVENILES ARE OBTAINING WEAPONS
TO USE IN COMMITTING CRIMES. NEW EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS FOR GUN OWNERS WILL PREVENT CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO FIREARMS. OUR SHERIFFS AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS EFFORT. WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THAT HANDGUNS DO NOT LEAD
TO ACCIDENTAL DEATHS. HANDGUNS SOLD BY
DEALERS IN IOWA, IN THE FUTURE, BE REQUIRED TO HAVE SAFETY LOCKS. WE HAVE NO HESITATION
REQUIRING SAFETY CAPS ON ASPIRIN BOTTLES - WHY NOT SAFETY LOCKS ON HANDGUNS?
AS WE MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER, OUR SCHOOLS BETTER OUR HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE, OR ENVIRONMENT
CLEANER, OUR CROPS AND WORKERS MORE VALUABLE AND OUR GOVERNMENT MORE ACCOUNTABLE, PEOPLE
WILL COME. AS WE BUILD ON OUR STRENGTHS OF FERTILE SOIL AND FERTILE MINDS, PEOPLE WILL
COME. AS RAY KINSELLA WAS TOLD IN THE MOVIE FIELD OF DREAMS
ABOUT OUR FIELDS OF OPPORTUNITIES: “PEOPLE WILL COME. THEY WILL COME TO
IOWA FOR REASONS THEY CAN’T EVEN FATHOM. OH, PEOPLE WILL COME, RAY. PEOPLE WILL MOST DEFINITELY COME.”
MAY YOUR GOD, MY
GOD, AND OUR GOD BLESS THIS GREAT STATE AND ITS PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.