AFL-CIO opposes biomedical research initiative
The Montana AFL-CIO executive board announced Monday its opposition to the Montanans for Biomedical Research, Veterans Care and Cures Act, saying the $200 million bond proposal could be abused by special interests and hinder the state Legislature’s ability to invest in infrastructure projects in 2017.
However, a supporter for Initiative 181 said it wasn’t an either/or situation, but that the state could pursue infrastructure as well as biomedical research.
“While I-181 is well intentioned, it has raised some major concerns,” said Al Ekblad, executive secretary of the Montana AFL-CIO. “First, it sets a precedent of directing bonding through the initiative process that could be abused by special interests in the future. Second, it’s our executive board’s belief that public funds should be used for public projects and institutions. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I-181 could hinder the Montana Legislature’s ability in 2017 to invest in Montana’s infrastructure and put Montanan construction workers, who have not recovered from the 2008 recession, to work in good-paying jobs.”The proposal, still in the signature-gathering stages for the November ballot, would bond $200 million over the next 10 years to establish and fund the Montana Biomedical Research Authority.
The executive board voted to take a position on the initiative last week in addition to making other regular election-year decisions. The Montana AFL-CIO represents 35 unions, 500 locals and 50,000 working Montanans, its website states.
State initiative seeks funds for biomedical research
Randy Gray, treasurer of Montanans for Research and Cures, which is sponsoring the proposal, said it should not be a question of infrastructure or medical research, but doing both.
He noted even the AFL-CIO decision said the proposal was “well-intentioned.”
“We are extremely disappointed by the AFL-CIO’s decision to stand against this critical initiative that would help hundreds of thousands of Montanans and their families who are touched by brain disease and disorders and mental illnesses,” said Gray, a former Great Falls mayor.
He said 181’s bipartisan coalition will stay focused on gathering signatures and educating voters on this initiative that he said will create new jobs and “give hope to Montana’s seniors, veterans, kids and families.”
The initiative will create a Montana Biomedical Research Authority, which will award $20 million in grants a year for 10 years for scientific research in Montana. An independent panel of doctors, scientists, nurses and patient advocates will decide which organizations receive research grants, organizers said.
Supporters said such a bond could help McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls and other Montana-based groups such as University of Montana, Montana State University, Shodair, Benefis and others plan for long-term projects that may come up with cures for chronic conditions.
Gray said while people likely would see the results of infrastructure projects quicker, “181 is a much longer-term project that will pay enormous dividends down the line in terms of cutting down costs for treatment and care.”
Gray said both could move forward simultaneously.
“There’s no reason to fear that doing one will preclude the other from occurring,” Gray said. “We agree there should be some infrastructure improvements, but there should also be some longer-term medical improvements.”
State Sen. Jim Keane, D-Butte, supports the AFL-CIO decision.
“I think it’s very unfair to target one thing,” he said of 181, adding the bond issue would strip the state of doing anything else.
“I support brain-injury research but to take that much money and no discussion ... is very unfair,” Keane, a retired union member, said.
He said he could see putting some money into biomedical research, but not the $20 million a year for 10 years.
“We couldn’t get $150 million in bonding for infrastructure,” he said.
The initiative needs 24,175 signatures needed to qualify the initiative for the Nov. 8 ballot, organizers said.