Boston (AP) -- By a vote of 134-13, the House has given preliminary approval to a bill that calls on the state to make a 1 billion dollar investment in the life sciences industry over the next ten years.
Debate on the measure is expected to continue Thursday.
Many of the state's long-standing industries are feeling jilted by the emphsasis on life sciences. They say putting money into existing businesses would be a surer, road-tested use of limited state resources rather than investing in an uncertain, cutting edge technology.
Bill Vernon, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, says the state should focus on the true powerhouse of job creation.
But supporters of the life sciences initiative say that without the investment, Massachusetts could lose its research and development edge to competitors from California to Singapore.
North Adams State Representative Dan Bosley, one of the bill's chief sponsors, says life sciences is the state's future.
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