A colony on the moon would have the same effect on invention as the race to the moon initiated by Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. That race invented the transistor which led to the microchip. The man in space effort stimulated business--don't forget that NASA made popular the orange -flavored drink Tang. That race also took money away from government's efforts to control every aspect of our lives from cradle to grave and the frightening world of Big Brother and 1984.
Newt, as a student of history, knows the technology that would come out of a moon colony. He also understands the benefits. We would not have men and women on the moon jumping on trampolines at 16.6% of Earth weight and playing around on moon buggies. No! It would not be useless fun and games. There is stuff on the moon that you could not get as easily on Earth--at 16.6% of Earth weight! Space elevators anyone?
Finally, it would again take money away from Big Government and help shrink it like a cancerous tumor--to a more manageable size!
Newt also knows from history that a moon colony would become a dream in the minds of children around the world. Children would again dream. In this case they would dream about becoming moon colony people when they grow up! That dream would bring the purpose of an education into the fulfillment of a dream. That would repeat some good history!