Democrats say a proposed deal to lure a research center to Florida leaves out minorities.
By STEVE BOUSQUET, SCOTT BARANCIK and ALISA ULFERTS
Published October 23, 2003
TALLAHASSEE - Even as the price went up, a deal to build a biomedical research center at public expense became racially charged Wednesday, disrupting what had been a smoothly scripted dance.
Democrats said the project fails to give black people an equal share and accused Republicans of arrogance for dismissing their concerns.
Most of them were members of the black caucus, who criticized a lack of racial diversity at Scripps Research Institute near San Diego. Gov. Jeb Bush is trying to lure Scripps to Florida with $369-million in state money to make Florida a serious player in the burgeoning biotech industry.
The $310-million cost Bush has repeatedly cited for the deal did not include $59-million in interest the money would generate. The extra cash would go to Scripps, not taxpayers. Many legislators expressed surprise but not concern.
"The governor negotiated a lot of things we didn't find out about right away," said Democratic Sen. Ron Klein. "That was one of them." The higher price did not concern Klein, who is from Palm Beach County, where Scripps' Florida headquarters would be built.
Despite Wednesday's controversy over race, a spokesman for Scripps said the company expects the deal to be approved. Democrats don't have the votes to block it.
Still, Democratic anger prompted Scripps' champion in the House, Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, to apologize for keeping Democrats out of private meetings.
"I hope we can let the indignation pass," Johnson said.
The deal was negotiated in secret by Bush, who first pitched the idea to Scripps in July. The governor called this week's special session when he announced the plan two weeks ago. The first bill outlining details was filed Tuesday. The session ends Friday.
White Democrats joined their black colleagues in criticizing the deal, saying it suffered from too few people making decisions behind closed doors.
"I've lost my faith in the ability of people in this body to act in good conscience," said Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach.
The controversy began when Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee rejected amendments by black lawmakers. Republican members used words like "quotas" and "set-asides" in referring to the proposals.
One amendment would have added Florida's four historically black colleges to a list of universities where Scripps would have to recruit employees. Another would have required Scripps to comply with Gov. Jeb Bush's One Florida initiative, which replaced affirmative action.
A third amendment would have required Scripps to spend 10 percent of money raised in Florida on biomedical programs at historically black colleges. All failed. A Senate committee approved similar amendments.
As black lawmakers spoke passionately about America's racist past, Rep. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, said: "There is nothing anyone could do to make up for 200 years of abuse. If we could, we would."
Rep. Ed Jennings, D-Gainesville, chairman of the legislative black caucus, was the only black lawmaker on a state-sponsored tour of the Scripps center in La Jolla, Calif., last week. Scripps president Richard Lerner brushed aside a question Jennings asked about the company's diversity with a couple of sentences.
"We have people from all nations, of all colors, at all levels. You and I would be very proud of our diversity," Lerner told Jennings.
The 2000 Census found that non-Hispanic whites comprised 55 percent of San Diego County's population, Latinos 26.7 percent, Asians 8.7 percent and blacks 5.5 percent.
Scripps said 35 percent of its California employees are racial or ethnic minorities. Asians comprise 24.5 percent and Hispanics 7.9 percent. Blacks comprise 2.8 percent, most in low-paying jobs.
Whites and Asians dominate the institute's most prestigious and highest-paying jobs. Among service workers, the lowest rung of Scripps' pay scale, about 19 percent are white and 14 percent are black.
San Diego high school chemistry teacher Larry Nordell said Scripps has been eager to hire Mexican-American students for summer jobs. "Most are first-generation American kids," Nordell said.
Scripps attorney Doug Bingham said the center struggles to find black scientists who have a Ph.D.. "That's why we work with kids in primarily African-American high schools," Bingham told lawmakers previously.
The anger of black lawmakers surprised other lawmakers. But Jennings said he and nine other black caucus members voiced their grievances in a private meeting Tuesday with House Speaker Johnnie Byrd but got no result.
"They wanted $15-million for a wide variety of things," Byrd said Wednesday. "We sent them to see the governor."
The legislation (HB 1E) requires Scripps to meet certain hiring and other performance measures, stay in Florida for 20 years and return up to $200-million to the state through private donations, naming rights and royalties from patents.
Wednesday's episode temporarily obscured other questions surrounding the Scripps deal, and whether it protects taxpayers.
Rep. David Simmons, R-Longwood, a lawyer, said the deal lacks an "exit strategy" for the state if Scripps does not create the jobs as promised. He also said the state's expectations are based on "aspirations," instead of making public money contingent on accomplishments.
"That's a very, very loose standard," said Simmons. Still, he voted for the bill.
The full House and Senate are expected to take up the legislation today.
- Times staff writer Kris Hundley contributed to this report.
