Mass. governor signs life sciences law before conference
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Associated Press
House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, Nobel Prize winner Craig Mello and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined the governor as he signed the landmark legislation at the Joslin Diabetes Center. Kraft has funded medical research, and Mello is a University of Massachusetts researcher who won the 2005 Nobel Prize for medicine.
The 10-year measure includes $500 million in capital funding, $250 million to fund research grants and $250 million in tax incentives for certified life sciences projects.
The bill became law in the heart of Boston's Longwood Medical Center, home to Harvard Medical School and cutting-edge medical facilities. The law also will help in developing five regional technology and innovation centers.
The ceremony commemorating the bill was notable for the exchange of affections between Patrick and DiMasi, who traded barbs earlier this year when the speaker killed the governor's casino gambling bill.
Patrick heaped praise on DiMasi, Senate President Therese Murray and former Senate President Robert Travaglini.
"Sometimes in this business of ours, people keep score in purely political terms," Patrick said. "And there's no denying the fact that signing this bill today makes a clear and important political point: that the Legislature and the administration can work together on big and complex initiatives when we set our mind to it."
In his remarks, DiMasi returned the compliment, saying: "Believe me, Governor Patrick deserves full credit for what he has done on this area, and it will be an unbelievable legacy for you, governor. I swear that this will be remembered and you will be remembered for all the good things that will come to this every single day after the signing of this bill."