Leavitt lobbies for funding
Issue: The Legislature has not budgeted enough money for Gov. Mike Leavitt's prized electronic highway of communications technology connecting government, schools and the private sector statewide.History: Since his campaign, Leavitt has touted the benefits of high technology in education and government. In his 1995 budget proposal he recommended $29 million toward establishing his electronic highway in education. But lawmakers have picked away at the money, leaving about half of what Leavitt wanted. After negotiating with GOP leadership this week, he got some back, but is still about $7 million short of what he wants.
Action: For the first time this session, Leavitt visited GOP Senate and House caucuses and made a strong plea for the money.
Pros and cons: Using the analogy of one large gear turning lots of little ones, Leavitt said giving the large gear of technology a slight turn will get the little gears of state government turning and working. "Technology will allow us to resolve all of our other problems," he said in a loud, animated tone. He urged lawmakers to change their problem-solving methods and look to technology as the solution in all areas of government. Leavitt asked them to lift the electronic highway out of the caucus money pool for pet projects and give it a higher priority. "We are not talking about line items here, we are talking about legacies," he told the House caucus Thursday. "This is a new way of doing business."
Responding to critics who claim the governor talks technology without a plan, Leavitt reminded them of his pre-session budget seminars when he explained his initial objective of completing the statewide communications network for education and government. After his impassioned pitch, Leavitt quickly departed. "I guess the governor isn't taking any questions," one lawmaker joked.