The legislature’s budget committee OKs $10 million for a dental school in Marshfield.
Caledonia Republican Robin Vos says there’s no money or any demonstrated need for the Joint Finance Committee to authorize up to $10 million in borrowing to the Marshfield Clinic for a rural dental education outreach facility, when the state’s only dental school, at Marquette University, is currently underfunded.
Vos says this is a case of a politician bringing home the pork. The bonding is contingent upon Marshfield Clinic matching the 10-million in non-state funds for the project.
Stevens Point Democrat Julie Lassa says she’s observed long waiting lists and the difficulty in finding dental practitioners for harder cases. And she says her district is not alone.
Vos says at a time when the state has such a huge deficit, people are “sick and tired” of spending. He says lawmakers should wait until the next budget to have a full discussion as to whether the facility is actually necessary.
There was no public hearing on the bill (AB-912, SB-656), which was introduced March 29 and immediately referred to JFC. The bill needs approval from the Assembly and the Senate.
Jackie Johnson report 1:39
