Gov. Schwarzenegger takes a stab at Iowa

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says Florida is "for the old people" and that no one wants to take a vacation in Iowa.

The Republican governor on Tuesday told a Silicon Valley conference on infrastructure that in comparison, his state has a reputation as a destination.

"No matter where you go in the world, people still want to come to California," Schwarzenegger said. "There's no one screaming like, 'I can't wait to get to Iowa.' That I can guarantee you. They want to come here to California."

He also said that California's economic diversity can be seen in Hollywood, technology startups, tourism and agriculture, whereas many states are noted for just one attribute.

"Like one state is known for its potatoes; one state is known for its oil," Schwarzenegger said at the Next American Economy conference, which was hosted by The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program and Lazard investment bank. "And another state like Florida is known for the old people."

A spokesman for Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, Troy Price, said Iowa's balanced budget and improvements in the quality of life in the last few years were a contrast to California's deep budget problems. He added, "We invite Californians and Gov. Schwarzenegger to come to Iowa and see what the best state in the nation has to offer."