On Monday, the Minnesota Senate unanimously approved a bill to allot $4.9 million for mesothelioma research related to Iron Range mining.  Now, it will advance to the Governor's office for final endorsement.

The bill had acquired national attention not only because of the significant monetary value, but also because of the Governor's initial opposition to the proposal.  Even though he believed the research should be conducted, Gov. Tim Pawlenty originally opposed the funding's source.  Last Thursday, however, Pawlenty met with Democrats to reach a compromise: the $4.9 million will be taken in four stages from a Department of Commerce-administered fund that is now running a healthy surplus, instead of from a worker's compensation fund.  Pawlenty feared that extracting from the compensation fund would mean premium increases for all businesses that feed into it.

The bill is now expected to pass smoothly.  The research, which will be led by state university campuses, is predicted to last five years.

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.