It's time the Legislature gave the university the lead in this.
March 6, 2006
Star Tribune
To the politicians who have been giving lip service to building a cutting-edge biosciences industry in Minnesota, Robert Bruininks sent an important message Thursday: It's time to put up or shut up.
Of course, the president of the University of Minnesota used phrases more befitting his annual State of the University address. But we hope their meaning was received as if it had been shouted at the statehouse. Minnesota cannot just talk about being a leader in synthesizing of molecular biology, medicine and agriculture to eradicate disease, prolong life and secure prosperity. It must act, and soon, to make it so. Bruininks is pointing the way.
He proposes that the Legislature create a separate, fast-track process for approving construction of at least five new biosciences laboratories at the University of Minnesota. The Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority would be authorized, initially, to issue 30-year bonds of up to $330 million, to be financed 90 percent with state dollars, 10 percent with university resources. It would have its own small governing board and would function apart from the Legislature's bonding process.
Read the full story at: http://www.startribune.com/561/story/284045.html
Posted by reas0011 at March 7, 2006 10:50 AM