Senate Journal: Page 60: Tuesday, January 9, 2001

  small business owners needing access to global markets, will have access to
  advanced
  telecommunication services-a prerequisite to leadership in the new economy.

  Today, Iowans lead busy, and at times, complicated lives.  We balance family
  and
  friends, work, community and church responsibilities.  We need a government
  that
  helps us deal with these responsibilities and reflects our values.

  When we need information or services from state government, we have a right
  to
  expect accuracy, efficiency and quality.  E-government, information, and
  services
  available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will help meet our expectations and
  make
  things a little easier and a lot more convenient.

  Working together, we can create E-government so that every Iowan who seeks
  information, applies for a license or permit, or files a tax return or other
  document, will
  be able to do so whenever and however is most convenient for them.

  Let us accept the challenge of 100% E by 2003.  Iowans need it.  Leadership
  of a
  new economy requires it.

  In the same vein, we need a more accountable government.  Accountability is
  a core
  Iowa value.  We can and we should reflect that value in our statutory law
  defining how
  we govern and decide.  That is why we ask for your support of the
  Accountable
  Government Act.  Under the Act, the executive branch would strategically
  plan,
  develop performance measurements to gauge progress, and budget according to
  the
  desired results.  We would be required to annually report to citizens and
  welcome
  regular performance reviews.  We would be equipped to make decisions on data
  when
  limited resources require choices.

  Working together, let us adopt the Accountable Government Act.  When coupled
  with the mandate for fiscal responsibility and saving contained in our
  Constitution and
  prior budget reform acts, the Accountable Government Act will complete the
  effort to
  have a government with the values of the people it serves.  A government
  well suited to
  help us lead the new economy.

  Recently, I had the privilege of welcoming to the Governor's office two of
  Iowa's top,
  young scholars-Colin Holtze and Dana Hansen.  These two young people are in
  their
  first year of college-Colin at Duke and Dana at Iowa State.  What must we do
  today to
  maximize our chances of having these two bright, young people, and thousands
  like
  them, shape Iowa's future?

  I believe the answer lies in transforming our economy and leading the new
  economy-particularly in areas where Iowa has a competitive advantage.
  Younger
  Iowans may know that Iowa boasts some of the richest, most productive soil
  in the
  world-land that has fed a nation and has helped to feed a world.  But do
  they also
  understand the power of the research and development taking place on our
  university
  campuses or at businesses located across the state?  Work that will expand
  the uses of
  our crops from food and fiber to cures for cystic fibrosis and other
  illness, to renewable,
  cleaner burning fuels, and to biodegradable materials suitable for
  manufacturing a
  wide variety of products.

  Imagine a world where rosemary is used for more than adding flavor to food.
  Imagine a day when it will produce an antioxidant that wards off illness or
  disease.

© 2001 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments about this site or page? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.

Last update: Sun Jan 13 11:17:37 CST 2002
URL: /DOCS/GA/79GA/Session.1/SJournal/00000/00060.html
jhf