GOP urges Gov. Holden to free funds for state lab

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some Republican senators are urging Gov. Bob Holden to release $25 million from the state's share of a national tobacco settlement to build a new health laboratory.

Because of a tight budget, Holden has withheld millions of dollars in state appropriations, including the money budgeted for the laboratory.

"Recent developments involving anthrax and possible bioterrorism threats to public health have underscored Missouri's need for a new health laboratory," Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, said Wednesday.

"We have appropriated $25 million from tobacco settlement payments for a new state health lab and would urge the governor to release that appropriation as a proper and necessary use for this money," said Singleton, chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

Holden spokesman Jerry Nachtigal said he was mystified by the Republican position since freezing the funding has no direct impact on when a new facility would be built.

He said design work is well under way and a construction contract would not be awarded until early 2003.

"It doesn't slow a new lab down by a single day. The governor is committed to getting a new state health lab built," Nachtigal said. "Clearly, Missourians can be assured that the current health lab in Jefferson City is sufficient for any bioterrorism testing that's needed, and certainly they have had their hands full."

Next budget

Nachtigal said the governor is committed to finding room in next year's budget for the $25 million in order to keep construction on schedule.

Last month, money originally cut from the state health department's budget was restored to help fund Missouri's preparation for bioterrorism attacks.

The Department of Health and Senior Services had more than $163,000 released in order to hire additional staff to deal with potential threats.

To date, the state lab has conducted tests on about 200 samples for potential anthrax contamination.

Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said proceeds from the tobacco settlement are meant to be spent on health-related issues like a new lab.

"I think the health lab is an appropriate expenditure of tobacco money and to update the facility is certainly warranted," Russell said.

Holden and some other governors have asked President Bush to provide federal funding for anti-terrorist efforts, but Singleton said he doesn't expect help from Washington.