By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri budget negotiators have agreed to spend $21 million next year on life sciences.
The Missouri House originally wanted to allocate $36.5 million on the state's life sciences research board, while the Senate only wanted to spend $7.6 million.
State Representative Rachel Storch (D, St. Louis) says, though, that $21 million is still not enough to compete in plant, health, and agricultural sciences.
"We have an incredible industry base here, and we're really losing out to the other states around us and the other states across the nation that are making a much more substantial investment," Storch said.
Senate Budget Chairman Gary Nodler (R, Joplin) suggested that spending more than $21 million on life sciences could result in other worthwhile state programs being cut back.
"A pattern that causes us to be likely to cut budgets significantly everywhere next year may indeed be reckless," Nodler said.
The Missouri General Assembly has until May 9th to vote on the 2009 state budget.