House Journal: Page 57: Tuesday, January 14, 1997

Just imagine what an asset it will be when every Iowan has
access to the courses and training that are today only available
on college campuses.  ACCESS Education will be a passport to
knowledge and pathway to the future for Iowans rural and urban
alike.
Just as technology is widening educational possibilities for
Iowans, it is transforming the face of business, government, and
homes all across America.  When I became governor, state
government was run with typewriters, carbon paper, and stacks
and stacks of file folders.  Today, we use video-conferencing,
e-mail, and a homepage on the Internet.
This year, I believe we must embark on a mission to ensure that
every Iowa community has access to high-speed, low-cost Internet
service.  Currently, about 30 percent of our communities lack
adequate access to the Internet and quite frankly, universal
access is a necessity if Iowa is to be a global competitor in
years to come.
State government must become more technology driven.  The author
of our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, said,
"Information is the currency of democracy."  In the 21st
century, Iowans need and deserve a government that is easily
accessible from their home or business.
The goal that I have set forth is for state government to have
the capability by the year 2000 to complete any electronic
transaction from remote locations throughout the state.  That
means Iowans will not have to travel to conduct business with
the state.  Transactions will be easier and quicker for citizens
and state employees alike.  Using technology more effectively
will make government more efficient and save millions of tax
dollars.
To achieve our technology goals, I am recommending the creation
of a Department of Technology and adequate technology
infrastructure funding to re-engineer state government to make
information and services more accessible to all Iowans.  
The marvels and wonders of technology are undeniably changing
the world.  At no time in our history has it been so critical
for us to be on the cutting edge.  Let us bring the State of
Iowa fully into the Information Age and enable future
generations of our people to better themselves, their
communities, and our system of government by harnessing
information _ Jefferson's currency of democracy.
As we look at how we deliver services, we must ensure taxpayers
that state government is just as efficient as private business. 
Where appropriate, areas of state government should be
competitively bid.  State employees will be provided assistance
in bidding for the work along with private sector contractors.  
State employees will be empowered to rethink the way we do
things, working to improve efficiencies.  In our first
experiment _ the Department of Transportation's highway paint
striping _ the state employees won the bid and will save the
state over $300,000 a year.  That is a tribute to state
employees' ingenuity as well as the power of the free market.
In Iowa, we are constitutionally required to balance our budget
every year.  If we are to return our nation to a position of
fiscal integrity, a balanced budget amendment to the United
States Constitution should be passed this year.  This
Legislature should adopt a resolution calling on Congress to
pass the balanced budget amendment.  And when it passes, we
should be one of the first states to ratify.
One of the foremost responsibilities of government is to protect
the safety of its citizens.  We are fortunate to live in a place
where the crime rate is well below the national average.  But
make no mistake, crime is a problem here in Iowa.

Iowa General Assembly

Index: House Journal (77th General Assembly: Session 1)

© 1997 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

Last update: Wed Jan 15 15:40:03 CST 1997
URL: /DOCS/GA/77GA/Session.1/HJournal/00000/00057.html
jhf