Battle Over Cancer Study

The Minnesota House approved a bill this week to hire University of Minnesota researchers to study mesothelioma in Iron Range miners. Virginia Lawmaker Tom Rukavina co-authored the bill. But Governor Pawlenty has threatened to veto the bill, not because he's against the study but because of the way its paid for. The bill would spend $5-Million from a special workers compensation fund. Pawlenty has suggested they use taconite production taxes collected from mining companies. Northern Minnesota Lawmaker Tom Anzelc helped cowrite the bill and thinks the study should be done first and then contact mining companies if they're found libel. The governor said using the workers comp fund will lead to higher assessments for all businesses statewide. Mesothelioma is a rare lung disease that occurs disproportionately high in mine workers.