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Life Sciences Research Trust Fund Advances to Missouri Senate
Last week the Missouri House of Represenatives debated and passed their version of a $21 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2008. Included within House Bill 7 were monies for the Department of Economic Development and the Life Sciences Research Trust Fund (LSRTF). At the end of the last week in March, the Life Sciences amount had dropped to $13.5 million.
The Life Sciences Trust Fund was established in the 2003 session, and was intended to set in statute that future legislatures would prioritize 25% of the state's tobacco settlement proceeds into building life sciences research capacity.
MOBIO CALL TO ACTION:
Please call members of the Senate Appropriations Committee (listed below) and ask them to please "fully fund" the Life Sciences Research Trust Fund that is in House Bill 7. Fully fund means to live up to the 25% threshold set in statute in 2003 during the passage and adoption of House Bill 688. Ask the Senate to support the same amount Governor Blunt included in his FY08 Executive Budget - $35.75 million.
Let your senator know that you support the ag research focus of the LSRTF for 2008. With premiere excellence in both animal health and the plant sciences, it makes sense to focus this first round of monies in order to demonstrate success and add the agribusiness community to future debates.
Many of these very same senators voted for House Bill 688 in 2003. Please ask them to back up their earlier vote for the life sciences. Four years ago they voted to bind the budgetary hands of future legislators to keep the tobacco settlement monies from being diverted to other uses, this is their chance to live up to that promise they made.
Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee
Sen. Chuck Gross, Chairman (R-23) 573-751-8635, was one of 28 senators that voted "YES" on 5/15/2003.
Sen. Gary Nodler, Vice-Chair (R-32) 573-751-2306, was one of 28 senators that voted "YES" on 5/15/2003.
Sen. Frank Barnitz, (D-16) 573-751-2108, was one of 158 representatives that voted "YES" on 5/16/2003.
Sen. Joan Bray, (D-24) 573-751-2514, was one of 28 senators that voted "YES" on 5/15/2003.
Sen. Norma Champion, (R-30) 573-751-2583, was one of 28 senators that voted "YES" on 5/15/2003.
Sen. Timothy Green, (D-13) 573-751-2420, was absent with leave on 5/16/03.
Sen. Rob Mayer, (R-25) 573-751-3859, was one of 158 representatives that voted "YES" on 5/16/2003.
Sen. Chuck Purgason, (R-33) 573-751-1882, was one of 158 representatives that voted "YES" on 5/16/2003.
Sen. Luann Ridgeway, (R-17) 573-751-2547, was not in state office at the time of the 2003 votes.
Sen. Yvonne Wilson, (D-9) 573-751-9758, was one of 158 representatives that voted "YES" on 5/16/2003.
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