 |
 |
FLORIDA: Bush pitches Scripps incentives Some senators are wary of a $310-million plan to lure a biomedical research center. By STEVE BOUSQUET and ALISA ULFERTS, Times Staff Writers Published October 21, 2003 TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday made his case to Florida lawmakers for spending $310-million to lure the world's largest private research center to Florida, but skeptical senators weren't in a buying mood. In an unusual joint session of the Legislature, Bush said he supports measures to ensure that the money is well-spent, but warned lawmakers not to micromanage a venture that could push Florida to the forefront of biomedical research. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build an economic engine with the power to drive this state forward," Bush told lawmakers. Florida can create prosperity for future generations, Bush said, "or we can forfeit our dream to those bold enough to build it." Bush said he supports requiring Scripps Research Center to repay half the money beginning in 2011. He also endorsed a plan to set goals for Scripps' hiring, with reductions in the state's commitment if the goals are not met. Hinting at possible problems ahead with senators, Bush said: "The big concern is the balance between accountability, which we all want, and micromanaging." A leading senator, Brandon Republican Tom Lee, said Bush's plan for overseeing how the public's money is spent lacked sufficient safeguards. The trick is protecting taxpayers without alienating the institute, Lee said. "Once we write this check, we lose the ability to make sure the return of investment occurs for the people of the state of Florida," said Lee, who is expected to become Senate president next year. If any lawmakers oppose the idea of spending public money on a private company, they weren't evident. Instead, the focus was on accountability. But the public was left largely in the dark as the session began. A House bill did not surface, and Bush expanded the five-day session's agenda to include an exemption from public records laws for "certain information" on the Scripps deal. Late Monday afternoon, the Senate released its version of a bill to help Scripps, which included numerous oversight provisions that Bush did not propose. Instead of an oversight board of five directors as Bush wants, senators suggested nine. Instead of letting Bush appoint most board members as the governor proposed, senators want Bush, the Senate and the House to each appoint three members. The Senate wants board members to file financial disclosure forms. Anyone with a financial stake in Scripps or any of its affiliates could not serve. Other Senate proposals include: * Scripps could not expand in any state except Florida and California for 15 years, or until it repaid half the $310- million. * Scripps would have to hire Florida workers and buy from Florida vendors "to the extent possible," and would have to use the state's online job posting system and take part in job fairs at a minimum of five Florida community colleges or universities. * Scripps would be prohibited from using the state's money for lobbying and would have to open its books to two watchdog arms of the Legislature, the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. Senators also want to create a Joint Legislative Committee on Biomedical Investment Oversight that would comprise three House members and three senators. House Democrats challenged the governor's calculations of 44,000 spinoff jobs the deal would create. Economist Ed Montanaro, hired by Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, said the number is likely closer to 16,000 by 2018. Montanaro said Scripps would directly or indirectly create from 5,700 to 6,500 jobs over the next 15 years, close to Bush's projection of 6,500. The dispute is over the number of jobs from biotech companies that cluster around Scripps. During the joint session with Bush, Democrats asked the toughest questions. Sen. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, said it was "fairly unprecedented" for an out-of-state business not to put up its own money. Bush rejected that. "It is a not-for-profit. It is not there to make money. It's there to make discoveries," Bush said. Bush also said Floridians should not receive preferential treatment in jobs or programs at Scripps Florida. "It should be completely open," Bush said. If Florida and Scripps are to become partners, Scripps officials will have to gain the trust of skeptical lawmakers before Friday, when the fifth special session of the year is scheduled to expire. His sleeves rolled up, Peter Schultz, a Scripps professor, gave lawmakers a primer on gene mapping and said Florida is poised to help find cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, obesity and other ailments. Lee downplayed the significance of the two-hour presentation, calling it "a little bit of a dog-and-pony show." But Lee said the Scripps deal wasn't news to him. He said Bush briefed him on Sept. 30, nine days before it became public. SOURCE: The St. Petersburg Times, FL http://www.sptimes.com/2003/10/21/State/Bush_pitches_Scripps_.shtml * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn