Senate Journal: Page 82: Friday, January 17, 2003
shows we can work together-city with county, school with town, state with everyone-to
leverage our dollars and our ideas and our energies. And it shows, most of all, that
good ideas are abundant in this wonderful state, and that there are legions of good
people ready to bring those ideas to life. It shows that dreams can come true.
But only if we accept change. No, we must do more than accept it. We must
embrace it.
Embracing change means a new, focused economic development effort. Changing
our economy from one of low-priced agricultural commodities and lower paying jobs to
one of high-priced agricultural ingredients that feed, fuel, and heal; that create wealth
through high-paying jobs held by highly educated workers. The state must act as a
catalyst for change building on the lessons of Vision Iowa and creating a resource to
transform our economy. The state must remove barriers by simplifying our income tax
system and reforming our property tax system.
We must embrace the new technologies while reaffirming the old values. We must
find ways to identify and encourage the Henry Wallaces and John Vincent Atanasoffs
of this generation. It is not accident that the greatest agriculture scientist in American
history-Henry Wallace-was an Iowan. It is no accident that the genius behind the most
important technological advancement in American history-John Vincent Atanasoff-did
his work in Iowa. The environment for them was there. But now we must redouble
our efforts to encourage the entrepreneur, the genius, the innovator, by providing the
resources and the atmosphere for innovation and invention.
Embracing change means continuously improving education. Our values require
that we remain a leader in education. We must commit to better preparing our
children for school by supporting early childhood education. We must encourage more
of our children to attend college. If they are to earn more, they must learn more.
We cannot just tinker-we must reinvent. For example, expanding educational
opportunity by giving students access to online courses, enabling schools to combine
courses to widen course selections, and encouraging consolidation where it improves
educational opportunity becomes important in a regional system.
By doing so, we can tell those looking to invest in Iowa: "Put your business here-it’s
best for your needs."
We’re making progress as class sizes are falling; test scores are rising. But we need
to do better.
There will be risk. Some ideas may be difficult to accept or implement. It will not
be easy. However, I sense an already great amount of cooperation between this
legislature and our administration. We are dedicated to getting the job done.
To get the job done, we must manage the power of partnerships between
governments at all levels and between the public and private sectors. We can do little
alone. We can do anything together.
We must take risks-as individuals and as a state. We must not be afraid to lead,
not be afraid to fail.
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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