Destination 2025, deadlines set

Destination 2025
The Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee heard a presentation yesterday on Destination 2025, a report done by the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota and Deloitte Consulting. Dale Wahlstrom, CEO of the BioBusiness Alliance, said they are dedicated to the advancement of bioscience-related industries in Minnesota by bringing together all related areas of biosciences in a coordinated effort to ensure the industry's long-term health and success.

Wahlstrom said Destination 2025 is a roadmap for growth of six life science markets-medical devices, biologics and biopharmaceuticals, animal health, food, renewable energy and renewable materials. He said, Destination 2025 is in phase three, which is the implementation phase. Wahlstrom said the report findings and recommendations reflect the global views of each life science industry, identify opportunities and challenges and provide direction for the evolution of Minnesota's public policy, academic investments and infrastructure.

Wahlstrom said the report recommended expanding University of Minnesota funding for a medical devices center, forming appropriate tax policies for growth and reinvention, developing programs for startup and small companies and developing incentives to attract investment to the state.

In the area of agricultural and biomass, the report recommends creating a center of excellence for engineering and manufacturing, developing incentives and programs for startup to growth phases and providing incentives for market creation through government contracts.

Committee Deadlines
The House and Senate are expected to approve a resolution today setting five committee deadlines for the 2009 session. The February Forecast, which is expected to project an even larger state deficit than the already estimated $4.8 billion, is tentatively scheduled to be released March 4.

If approved, the committee deadlines would be:
• March 27 - committees act favorably on bills in the House of origin
• April 7 - committees act favorably on bills, or companion of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
• April 16 - divisions of House and Senate finance committees act favorably on omnibus appropriation bills
• April 22 - House and Senate finance and taxes committees, and the House Ways and Means Committee, act favorably on omnibus appropriation and tax bills
• May 7 - conference committees on omnibus appropriations and tax bills must report bills to the floor

Although not in the resolution, House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, said the intention is to have all budget, finance and tax bills sent to the governor by May 12, six days before members must constitutionally adjourn.

Today at the Capitol:
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will react to the governor's budget in the Senate Higher Education Committee at 12:30 p.m.

For other things happening at the Capitol, please see the legislative schedules for the House and Senate.