MSU researchers hoping Congress gets back to work — soon

Scientists and research leaders at Montana State University are hoping the uproar over Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott gets settled soon, so that Congress can get back to the business of spending money.

By GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer

Millions of dollars in research funds earmarked for MSU and billions available through competitive grants are in limbo right now.

Tom McCoy, MSU’s vice president for research, said this week it doesn’t really affect MSU whether Sen. Lott, R-Miss., survives the controversy over his comments on segregation.

What does matter to MSU is what happens to the spending bills.

Congress, stymied by political acrimony before the November elections and then stymied by a lame duck session, failed to pass most of this year’s spending bills for government agencies, with the exception of the Defense Department and military construction, said P.J. Donovan, press secretary to Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.

The federal government has been coasting along since October on short-term "continuing resolutions." These resolutions keep last year’s spending levels going, but don’t allow any new spending.

MSU researchers are still applying for competitive grants from the National Science Foundation or National Institutes for Health, McCoy said. But the federal agencies’ response may be "We’ll fund you if we get more money from Congress, but not if we just have to hold spending to last year’s level."

"If this stretches out to June or July, we’ve got a problem," McCoy said.

Another big concern now, McCoy said, is that the Senate versions of the various appropriations bills call for spending $14 billion more than President Bush wants.

"There will be reductions," in the Senate versions, McCoy said.

Donovan said with the shift in the Senate to a Republican majority, Burns will now become chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Many of MSU’s agriculture-related grants go through that committee.

Burns is about the fourth highest-ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee and a friend of committee chairman Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, Donovan said.

"That bodes well" for MSU’s earmarked research money, Donovan added. "Conrad should be able to protect them" from budget cutters.

MSU scientists seek federal research funds on everything from fighting anthrax to developing high-tech fuel cells and lasers to improving traditional wheat, barley and beef production.

Last year MSU’s total spending on grants and contracts exceeded $66 million, much of it federal money.

Gail Schontzler is at [email protected].

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2002/12/20/news/msumoneybzbigs.txt