Wisconsin's Economic Summit number four will run over the next couple of days, and we have not lost our optimism that the marriage of the University, state government and state business community can provide a road map for economic growth and development in this state.

Frankly, we were frustrated that the budget reform plan offered last year by a bipartisan group of thinkers and analysts got such short shrift.

New thinking like that should be encouraged by serious consideration. But it was beginning, and we remain hopeful that the annual Summit will become the place where big ideas are welcomed.

The core agenda remains regional development and industry clusters.

We're happy to see the addition of health care to the agenda. We'd like to see more on the arts and recognition of the importance of early childhood development on the state's economy.

That will come. For now, the framework remains important and collaboration a worthwhile goal.