House recommends $65.8 million for University bonding projects; conferees appointed
On Wednesday, May 18, the House announced the details of its bonding bill recommendations. The $800 million proposal contains $65.8 million for two University of Minnesota projects:
Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) - $31.6 million
Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building - $27.2 million
View a comparison of bonding proposals.
On Thursday, May 19, the Star Tribune published an op-ed written by President Eric Kaler, "Please, legislators, invest in state's infrastructure before it's too late." Later that day, University of Minnesota advocates sent 493 emails to 126 legislators, urging their support for a bonding bill. Last week, advocates sent 1,928 emails to 181 legislators in support of a bonding bill.
The Bonding Bill Conference Committee members were appointed late Thursday night:
- Senator LeRoy Stumpf (chair)
- Senator David Tomassoni
- Senator Katie Sieben
- Senator Jeff Hayden
- Senator David Senjem
- Representative Paul Torkelson (chair)
- Representative Tony Albright
- Representative Bruce Vogel
- Representative Chris Swedzinski
- Representative Alice Hausman
The House and Senate have yet to agree on a bonding bill target. The legislature must pass all bills by Monday, May 23.
Senate Higher Ed receives OLA report on human research participant protection program
On Thursday, May 19, the Office of the Legislative Auditor presented a review of restructuring under way at the University of Minnesota related to human participant research and clinical drug studies. Legislative Auditor James Nobles testified that the University has implemented many encouraging and ambitious changes and more are under way. Vice President for Research Brian Herman and Medical School dean and Vice President for Health Sciences Brooks Jackson testified that the implementation plan is on time and on target, and answered legislators' questions. Regent Richard Beeson also testified and answered questions.
LCCMR conference committee convenes
The conference committee for the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) bill met for the first time on Wednesday, May 18. The Senate and House versions of the bill are very different. The Senate version contains the full list of project recommendations by the commission, while the House has made several adjustments, including the removal of many University of Minnesota projects. To date, the conference committee has approved only the projects and policy language that are in both the House and Senate bills, with the caveat that the committee can revisit those approved projects before a final conference committee report vote.
The Senate LCCMR bill conferees are Senators Kari Dziedzic, Torrey Westrom, and John Hoffman. The House LCCMR bill conferees are Representatives Tom Hackbarth, Tom Anzelc, and Steve Green.