Editorial: Time Has Come For State's Life Sciences Investment
It’s welcome news that the latest version of Gov. Deval Patrick’s life sciences bill — crafted by House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi — cleared its first hurdle in the House. As of the deadline for this paper, the bill was expected to get final approval from the House and move onto the Senate.
After all, the money will help clear roadblocks for Cambridge-based Genzyme Corp., which would like to increase its footprint in Framingham by 300,000 square feet and add 300 new jobs to the more than 1,800-plus employees it already has in town. The only obstacle to the plan, as it was revealed last November, is the town’s already over-taxed water and sewer system. But with the promised state funding, Framingham will get the capacity upgrade it needs to support growth by Genzyme and others.
Who doesn’t want to see a strong corporation like Genzyme add to its commitment in Central Massachusetts?
Too Much Talk
However, while we support the proposed legislation to help Framingham fund its upgrades, we also urge that the time for debate on this proposal has long since passed.
Patrick proposed his $1 billion biotech initiative last May, with House and Senate leaders smiling beside him. His plan was overwhelmingly greeted by the public as an effort whose time was overdue. So, why have we waited until now for this legislation to be finalized?
Massachusetts is already behind other states when it comes to funding biotechnology and related research initiatives.
Just next door in Connecticut, officials have already handed out grants to researchers as part of its $100 million, 10-year commitment to stem cell research. New Jersey has put a lot of money behind its stem cell initiative and Maryland has its own funding legislation on the table. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised $3 billion over 10 years for stem cell research.
Thankfully, Massachusetts, and Central Massachusetts in particular, has attracted a strong biotechnology industry that thrives on the commonwealth’s highly skilled workforce. And companies continue to choose this state to site new facilities, most notably Bristol-Myers Squibb, which will have 200 employees at its yet-to-be-completed Devens plant by the end of the year.
But the more time legislative leaders spend adding earmarks to the life sciences bill, the farther our state falls behind in the race to attract and retain jobs in biotechnology.
DiMasi’s version of the life sciences funding bill, released Feb. 14, not only includes $12.9 million for Framingham’s infrastructure, but also $12.6 million to build an interchange on Interstate 93 near Andover close to a proposed science-related office park and $30 million for vocational and technical high schools to improve life sciences courses. Another potential local benefit is the $90 million allocated for a center for genetic research at the UMass Medical School campus here in Worcester.
It’s understandable that there will be eyebrows raised over the various earmarks in this bill.
But there are always going to be critics of any legislation that doles out $1 billion in state funding. In the end, there will be winners and there will be losers. Seeking to please everyone will only result in deadlock.
During his state of the commonwealth speech, Patrick had it right when he said “the cost of inaction is too high” as it relates to further delays in approving his life sciences bill.
We agree, and cheer its speedy passage of the measure in the Senate.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
0 Comments