Senator Tom Arpke (R-Salina) speaking at the committee meeting.
A setback for the University of Kansas Medical Center in state budget discussions today (MON). A Kansas Senate committee has voted to cut $10 million that had been intended to help pay for a new building at the school. Senator Tom Arpke, a Republican from Salina, originally proposed the cut. He says he believes KU has been “fiscally irresponsible” in recent years and that has driven tuition increases.
Governor Sam Brownback had included the funding in his budget proposal for improvements at KU Med, as part of a plan to increase the number of physicians in Kansas. Senator Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, offered an amendment to restore the funding, but it failed to garner enough committee votes. The cut will be considered by the full Senate when the chamber votes on the state budget.