A Year On, Mass. Life Sciences Act Fuels Research

Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei, R-Wakefield, said it's both shortsighted and unfair to create a lavish new initiative for a single industry while hiking sales and meals taxes that could harm retailers and restaurant owners.

"We should be concentrating on lifting all boats rather than just one specific industry," he said.

Tisei said the state should instead focus on lowering the overall cost of business in Massachusetts to lure all types of industries.

The initiative also is raising the ire of union leaders who say some of the contractors benefiting from the initiative aren't doing enough to hire union workers or provide decent benefits and wages.

Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council which represents 74 local construction unions, said biotech construction projects require specialized piping and construction skills.

He's said the unions have been able to provide those skilled workers in the past.

"We've delivered quality projects for these guys on time and on budget and some of them have decided to slam the door on people who have delivered for them," he said.