What’s in a name? Debate over economic recovery stuck on title

DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad's showcase idea to revamp the state's economic development strategy got bogged down in semantics Tuesday.

Democrats, who hold a 26-24 majority in the Senate, sought to scale down the governor's approach for an Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress and rename it the Wallace Innovation Corp.

Sen. Steve Sodders, D-State Center, said what the governor is proposing is similar to the Wallace Technology concept that was active in the mid-1980s so Democrats preferred to stick with that concept. Also it was noted that Branstad signed executive order No. 17 in May 1985 that created an Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress composed of 13 members appointed by the governor from business, education and labor sectors as part of a comprehensive economic strategy. Since the order was not rescinded, it appeared that the partnership still exists even though state Department of Economic Development officials weren't aware of its status.

“Apparently, this is not a new, shiny thing,” Sodders said of the governor's idea to convert the current DED structure into a public-private partnership with a new organizational approach.

During a subcommittee discussion Tuesday of the governor's proposed partnership that was previously approved by the House (House File 590), John Stineman of the Iowa Chamber Alliance said the naming of the new authority and oversight boards is a “branding issue” that should promote Iowa to prospective businesses rather than confusing the message by attaching an individual's name to the new approach.

Branstad agreed, telling reporters that the Wallace name already “is on a lot of things in Iowa” – pointing to the Wallace State Office Building near the Statehouse. He also said “there's a house here in Des Moines, there's a farm, there's Wallace's Farmer. I think we need to focus on innovation and Iowa's future. I have nothing against the Wallace family or honoring the Wallaces, but I think we need to focus how we can make Iowa an innovative leader for the future.”

Sodders said he wanted to research the executive order vehicle to see what the status of the partnership is and whether some of the things Branstad is seeking in his legislation could be achieved instead via a new executive order.

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