Members of Idaho’s state legislative budget committee are on a fact- finding tour of locations in north central Idaho this week.
The delegation is making the rounds in places like Moscow and Orofino, with the intent being to better understanding issues and budget requests that will come up in the next legislative session.
On Thursday, the lawmakers toured the University of Idaho campus in Moscow and spoke with UI President Duane Nellis about a proposed integrated science research facility on campus. “Well, it’s the whole concept of integrated research, we do some of that on campus, but this provides a forum where laboratory space can support that, where it’s flexible space, and so many of the major research projects in the United States today require that kind of space.”
Nellis is hopeful that the state can fund five million dollars toward the $49 million needed to build the facility.
The tour group includes ten members of the state’s budget committee, along with members of the state’s division of financial management, legislative services office and Idaho State Board of Education.
Copyright 2012 Northwest Public Radio
