Burns delivers more research funding for Montana State University than University of Montana – "MSU is a research institution while UM is not"

As part of his campaign for a fifth term in the U.S. Senate, Conrad Burns, R-Mont., likes to mention all the federal dollars he brings home to Montana each year thanks to his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

But when it comes to bringing home the bacon to the state’s two public universities — Montana State University and the University of Montana — Burns has helped snag far more designated funding, called earmarks, for MSU.

Both schools are roughly the same size. MSU is the state’s land-grant college and has an agriculture school and an engineering school. UM, the state’s liberal arts college, has law, pharmacy and forestry schools.

MSU’s Washington lobbying firm has poured tens of thousands of dollars into Burns’ campaign coffers. UM’s Washington lobbying team did not donate to Burns’ campaigns until last year.

By FAITH BREMNER
Gannett News Service

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060925/NEWS01/609250303/1002

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MSU gets twice as much in federal earmarks as UM

By GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer

Montana State University receives far more federal research money through congressional "earmarks" than the University of Montana, but MSU President Geoff Gamble said Monday it has nothing to do with lobbyists and campaign funds.

One of the reasons, Gamble said, is clearly that MSU "is a top research university," a fact recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in its classifications of American universities.

MSU recently passed a milestone when it reported spending more than $103 million last year on research projects.

The Great Falls Tribune reported Monday that for every $1 in congressional earmarks received by the UM campus in the past six years, MSU has received $2.65.

Full Story: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2006/09/26/breakingnews/40earmarks.txt