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Lawmakers question plan for
funding private research with public money
Rep. Gary
Alexander and
Rep. Richard DeBolt appreciate public-private partnerships and the
discoveries and jobs that result from basic research, but the 20th
District lawmakers have too many concerns to support Senate Bill 5581,
which would funnel $35 million annually from the state’s tobacco
settlement into a “life sciences discovery fund” for 10 years beginning
in 2008. Money from the fund would be allocated by an appointed board to
private research ventures.
“I don’t want to surrender
the Legislature’s authority to decide how taxpayer money is allocated.
This bill says we ‘shall’ deposit $35 million each year, without giving
us any control of how that money is spent. That’s not what I call good
financial stewardship,” said Alexander, R-Olympia.
“What’s the most appropriate way to allocate public money to private
ventures? Is this even constitutional? And what about the taxpayers’
return on investment -- is there any assurance this money would be used
wisely, effectively, and produce jobs?” There was no rush to pass this
bill today, not three years before the fund would receive money,”
Alexander said. “We should have waited on voting, answered the many
questions and taken this up again during the 2006 legislative session.”
DeBolt, R-Chehalis, is
concerned that any economic benefit from the life sciences fund would
pass by Southwest Washington.
“There is no ‘one
Washington,’ and this bill proves it. If we’re going to invest public
money in private ventures, why aren’t we investing in private ventures
in communities that are already suffering? This money should remain
under the control of the Legislature, because without legislative
oversight, it’s likely this money will go to the same corridor that
seems to always get the most cake – the central Puget Sound corridor,”
said DeBolt.
SB 5581, which passed
53-40, had been amended by the House at the committee level and must
return to the Senate for agreement on the House changes.
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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