BioND Situation Exposes Broken Grant Approval Process

The web of cronyism and nepotism associated with the Bioscience Innovation Grant and the Bioscience Association of North Dakota illustrates the worst case scenario of "public private partnerships".

In the last few weeks, I’ve outlined the problems that exist between various legislators associated with the Bioscience Association of North Dakota. For background, reference the following:

Republican Leadership In Denial About Ethics

Investigation Update: Should The State Spend Public Dollars To Create A Special Interest Group?

New Ethics Commission Complaint Filed Against Legislator

Since that last update, some new information has come to light - which has itself demanded more records requests.

Bioscience Association of North Dakota logo.

North Dakota Department of Agriculture Documents Show Emily O’Brien Is A Contractor Not An Employee of BioND

According to documents provided by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture:

Combined Nd Ag Dept Biond Documents

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The Bioscience Association of North Dakota has no employees or salaries, but it does have Independent Contractors as its executive officers: both Emily O’Brien as COO and Richard Glynn as CEO.

The organization lists the line item costs of $435,000 for “consultants and contractual” expenses.

It does not list the individual compensation figures for these executive officers.

This $435,000 figure is exactly what the North Dakota Department of Agriculture has divvied …