March 26, 2007
Pioneer Press
Bill Salisbury
A Senate committee on Monday voted to bet the farm that Minnesota's economic future depends on biomedical research at the University of Minnesota.
The Senate Capital Investment Committee approved a bill that would allow the U to build six new biomedical research laboratories over 10 years, spending $370 million to stay at the forefront of medical and scientific breakthroughs.
"It's a commitment to compete with other states and countries around the world for the most advanced biomedical research facilities," University of Minnesota President Robert Bruinicks said.
Minnesota has a strong, vibrant biomedical technology industry, and the U research facilities are needed to keep that industry growing, Bruinicks said. "This is an investment in the core infrastructure of Minnesota's economy."
The bill creates a new biomedical facilities research authority with the power to borrow money by selling state bonds to finance construction and furnishing of the U labs.
The authority isn't a new idea. The Senate approved it last year, but the House refused to support it because it would have put the U first in line for state public works projects and counted against the state's borrowing limit for other facilities.
Senate Capital Investment Committee Chairman Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, said the U project is the only one he would consider for a long-term funding commitment. "This is telling the world that these research facilities are going to be available," he said.
The facilities authority is not in the bonding bill scheduled for a House vote tonight, but House Capital Investment Committee Chairwoman Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, said she thinks lawmakers can find a way to guarantee the labs will be built.
"Everyone understands that the university needs to move ahead on cutting-edge research," Hausman said. "I think there's a way that we can send a message that we are committed to building these laboratories."
Speaking to the Senate committee, Dr. Frank Cerra, the university's senior vice president for health sciences, said that to recruit top national and international research scientists, the U must be able to assure them it will build the labs they need. "The question is: Will we be a flyover state or a world player (in biomedical research)?" he asked.
The Senate commitment to the U labs was included in a relatively modest, $307 million public works funding bill that also would help pay for the central corridor light-rail transit line between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis and the renovation of St. Paul's Union Depot as a transit hub, plus a handful of other projects. The legislation goes to the Senate Finance Committee today and is scheduled for a Senate floor vote on Wednesday.
March 13, 2007
KARE 11
Compiled by Associated Press writers Brian Bakst and Martiga Lohn.
BONDING
Minnesota's credit card will probably get minimal use this year after a couple years of heavy activity. Last year's public works bill rang up at $999 million, on top of a $962 million package the year before. Lawmakers have said they might borrow for some projects this year, but won't tackle another megabill until next year. A significant renovation of the state Capitol, which wouldn't start until late 2008, could get some seed money.
BUDGET
This is job one of the 2007 session. Minnesota's current budget expires in June. Its two-year replacement should easily top $34 billion. Of course, there's a fight over the details. Finance officials projected a $2.1 billion surplus -- some of it in one-time money and other in recurring funds -- but Democrats argue that the overage barely covers inflation in current programs. For now, Democratic leaders aren't calling for a general tax increase, although some are pushing for changes in the business tax code. It remains to be seen how much new money schools will get and whether homeowners can count on the state to ease rising property taxes.
EDUCATION
Focus on young kids or the older ones? That's the big question in this debate. House leaders are determined to expand all-day, everyday kindergarten to more schools. Gov. Tim Pawlenty places greater emphasis on changing the high school culture. And Senate leaders are proposing to spend more state dollars on helping schools meet their special education expenses. All three are expensive propositions, so it'll be hard to do everything. On the higher education front, a hoped-for tuition freeze is probably too ambitious this year, but lawmakers could impose regulations on textbook sales.