There was a setback for the University of Kansas Medical Center in state budget discussions Monday.
A Senate committee voted to cut out $10 million that would help pay for a new health education building.
Republican Senator Tom Arpke from Salina originally proposed the cut. Arpke pointed to the tuition increases at KU compared to other universities in the state
“Looking at the overall performance at the Regents universities, it seems to me that the University of Kansas was being... a little fiscally irresponsible,” he said.
Arpke believes the university has other funds that could be used for the new facility.
Senator Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, offered an amendment to restore the funding.
“The $10 million that you’re taking away here is just down payment on a new facility," she said. "A new facility that they need to maintain accreditation.”
Her amendment failed to garner enough votes.
Gov. Sam Brownback had included the funding in his budget proposal as part of a plan to increase the number of physicians in Kansas.
The cut will be considered by the full Senate when the chamber votes on the state budget.