I think they mean something like UBI: non- or less-competitive grants that would fund modest-sized projects (or pilot studies for larger ones). Tenure doesn't

I think they mean something like UBI: non- or less-competitive grants that would fund modest-sized projects (or pilot studies for larger ones). Tenure doesn't really help with this problem in the lab sciences. While it lets faculty members keep their jobs, it usually doesn't come with enough funding to do experimental work. In fact, while you can "keep" a tenured position without grants, many places find ways to...discourage that (move your office to a shoebox in the sub-basement, crappy teaching and service assignments).