News Releases for January 2004
January 14, 2004
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Hoeven Rolls Out Aggressive New Agenda In State Of The State Address
'State Of The State Address' transcript: 
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BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today in his State of the State Address said North Dakota's economy is growing due to aggressive state policies. He outlined a bold new agenda for advancing the state.
"Today, I am pleased to report that the state of our state is strong," Hoeven said. "North Dakota is moving forward, and we are building a bright future."
The Governor pointed to strong state revenue projections, job and wage growth, and a projected budget surplus as signs of the state's economic health. As reasons for the good fiscal news he cited the state's competitive business climate and new way of pursuing economic development. The state is enlisting the university system to combine education and economic development to create more, higher paying jobs.
At the same time, Hoeven outlined a series of bold initiatives embodying his vision to build the future of the state.
"It is a vision where a technology corridor drives growth in the east, where an energy corridor drives growth in the west and where value-added agriculture, advanced manufacturing and tourism enterprises flourish throughout our state."
Major new initiatives include:
- Centers of Excellence Fund - A $50 million fund - leveraged with federal and state funds to $150 million -- to develop new Centers of Excellence at all of our campuses. These funds will accelerate the growth of our targeted industries in all regions of North Dakota by creating partnerships between higher education, industry and entrepreneurs.
- Opportunities 2020 - A program linking college students to careers in North Dakota through internships, giving them real world experience while they attend college.
- Tax Credits for New Technology - A tax credit for investment in technology will help us create the very best business climate possible for technology firms so that we can develop and attract the good paying jobs they provide to North Dakota.
- Economic Development Accountability - A program to enhance and strengthen economic development accountability to ensure that the taxpayers of North Dakota get real value for their investment. We will require that all economic development programs submit to the Department of Commerce, each January, a report of assistance received, actual jobs created and average wages paid by those jobs.
- Continued Commitment to K-12 Education - A commitment of an additional $75 million to primary and secondary education over the next four years, with at least 70 percent of those new resources targeted to further improve teacher compensation. Also, a commitment to increase funding for school equity.
- Property Tax Relief - A plan to expand the Homestead Tax Credit to provide property tax relief for our seniors. We will expand the number of seniors eligible for the Homestead Tax Credit and expand the maximum credit each senior may receive.
- Keeping North Dakota Safe - The Governor's Taskforce on Violent Crime will press new legislation to improve our safety and the safety of our children, including:
- Open records in sex offender commitment hearings
- Life sentences without parole for sexual predators
- The strongest civil commitment laws in the nation
- Increased supervision of paroled sex offenders, including GPS tracking
- Apply these tough standards, not only to offenders convicted in North Dakota, but also to those who relocate to our state
- Meth Addiction Treatment and Prevention - We must further increase the availability of drug courts and related treatment programs for those already addicted, and build strong and aggressive curriculum in our schools to teach our children the real story of meth and the devastating effect it has on people who use it.
"We have outlined an aggressive agenda to continue to build our economy, create good paying jobs, keep our schools strong, cut taxes for our seniors and maintain the quality of life we all enjoy," Hoeven said. "Let's join forces and build our future together right here in North Dakota. Working together, we can do all these things, and more. It will take commitment and hard work - a belief in ourselves and a belief in our future - but we can do it."
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