A new development in the Iron Range case of Minnesota has citizens concerned.  The governor of Minnesota has publicly stated that he does not support the bill which allots $4.9 million for asbestos research.  Governor Tim Pawlenty says he does not agree with the bill's source of funding.  He believes the money should come from Iron Range resources rather than the state's Worker's Compensation Fund.  Range representatives said they will proceed with their version of the bill.  The bill will be voted on in the House soon, and it is still moving through the Senate.

The funding discussed on March 11 has now passed the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee.  The bill allots $4.9 million to study the relationship between taconite mining and mesothelioma.  Last spring, the Minnesota Health Department found that 58 miners on the Iron Range had died of the disease.  The funding will allow researchers to study the components of taconite dust to determine what level, if any, constitutes dangerous exposure.  Read the article here.

The Minnesota State House is reviewing a bill to provide funds for substance research that may reveal links to asbestos.  Representative Tom Rukavina says Iron Rangers have been waiting 30 years to find out if taconite does indeed produces asbestos-like fibers that cause the rare lung cancer, mesothelioma.  Though the bill must pass through another committee before it is activated, funding was passed last week by the House Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy committee.  Read more.