House Democratic Budget Brings Good News For WSU Tri-Cities,
Funds Higher Education Enrollments; Spokane Initiative Unfunded
House Democratic leaders rejected many of the cuts to Washington State University that were contained in a House Republican budget released late last week. House Appropriations Co-Chair Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, announced a partisan budget today that will actually increase WSU funding by $2.4 million, compared to the House GOP proposal which reduced the WSU budget by a net $1.729 million.
WSU Tri-Cities, which lost $1.453 million in the House GOP budget, received no reductions from the House Democrats. The Democrats provided funding for these existing WSU programs that were marked for cuts by Republicans:
* Funding for 287 students at WSU Pullman
* Funding for 40 students at WSU Spokane
* Funding for 158 students at WSU Tri-Cities
* Funding for 51 students at WSU Vancouver
* Continuation of faculty salary increases approved last year.
* Continuation of the Advanced Technology Initiative, an innovative research program in precision agriculture, semi-conductor research, and reproductive biology.
House Democrats Do Not Fund The Spokane Health Sciences Initiative. The Democratic budget would have been preferable across the board for WSU, except that it did not provide funding for new WSU research programs in partnership with the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute. House Republicans and Gov. Gary Locke recommended $600,000 to WSU for this request, however House Democrats deliberately did not fund the proposal despite strong support from members of the Democratic caucus including Rep. Jeff Gombosky, D-Spokane, and Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane.
A comprehensive plan for development of new academic research programs in Spokane and an agreement between WSU and the SIRTI Board of Directors hinges on funding of this request. WSU Provost Rom Markin, in a letter to Rep. Sommers this week, said "Expanding university programs in health sciences in Spokane is essential for both the economic well-being of the Spokane area and the quality of life throughout the Pacific Northwest." He added, "The WSU Spokane Health Sciences Initiative is the first step towards satisfying the Higher Education Coordinating Board directive that WSU create a research campus at Riverpoint. Further, it carries out the intent of the 1998 Legislature that a health sciences consortium be created in Spokane." WSU plans for Riverpoint include:
* A coordinator to promote the development of biotechnology in the Spokane area.
* The establishment of a Cancer Prevention Research Center in Spokane, including an oncology researcher, program assistant, and grant writer.
* Hiring four post-doctoral research associates whose research training and projects will be centered in Spokane.
* Two research projects dealing with Vitamin E.
* The possible move of a third year Pharmacy program to Spokane.
* A campaign to raise $1.5 million over five years to endow a chair in entrepreneurship in Pharmacy and Health Care.
* A campaign to raise $3 million over three years to endow a chair in diabetes and metabolic diseases in Spokane.
* Long-term intentions to expand health science programs in surgical device development, male infertility, technologies for early detection of coronary artery disease and osteoporosis.
Republicans & Democrats Agree on Power Plant Funding.
House Democratic and Republican budgets fully fund the $3.6 million for a boiler at the WSU Power Plant in Pullman recommended by Gov. Gary Locke. House Democrats support funding for a $272,000 South Campus Electrical Substation that was not supported by House Republicans.
Now It`s the Senate`s Turn: Look for the Senate Ways and Means Proposed Supplemental Budget Next Week. Legislative tradition dictates that the state House of Representatives pass the first budget of the legislative session to the Senate. However, no party is in control of the state House. Democrats have 49 members. Republicans have 49 members.
And there have been few negotiations between House Republican and House Democratic leaders. The scheduled 60-day legislative session has now passed the 46th day. That means that the state Senate, with 27 Democrats and 22 Republicans may be the first to act in order for the Legislature to have a chance at on-time adjournment. The leader of the budget-writing process for the Senate Democrats is Sen. Valoria Loveland, D-Pasco. She is expected to release her budget proposal next week and then press Senate approval. House Democratic leaders indicate Loveland will take a different approach but the differences may be resolved.
This update is shared by fax and electronic mail to friends of Washington State University as state government developments occur regarding the 2000 Legislative Session. Contact Karen Fischer, 509/335-6665 to receive a copy. Call Larry Ganders at 360/956-2165 or send him a short pager message via e-mail to 3607863527@page.metrocall.com. From WSU Campuses, Dial 8-2165. e-mail: Ganders@energy.wsu.edu. Call Jane Yung in Olympia at 360/956-2164 or pager her at 360-956-8500. For bill status and other info, visit our web page at www.olympia.wsu.edu.
|
