Doyle Screws Marquette

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Marquette University's request for $10 million in state funds for the first phase of a new engineering center was rejected by the Wisconsin Building Commission on Wednesday.

Granting one such request might open the floodgates to similar requests from other private colleges and universities, officials warned.

The commission approved two other Milwaukee projects - $240 million in improvements for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee over the next six years and $5 million over the next 10 years to help maintain the Bradley Center. The votes sent both Milwaukee projects to the full Legislature, which must approve them this summer.

Why put $5 million into maintaining the Bradley Center?

I thought it needed to be demolished.

$240 million to UWM but not one dime to Marquette?

...Helping one private college might be "opening a door we better be very, very careful about," [Gov. Jim] Doyle said. He also said he was worried that aid to private institutions could eventually "choke off" the state's public colleges and universities.

...The request for $10 million in state aid would have helped fund the first, $35 million phase of the Discovery Learning Complex. It is expected to cost about $100 million.

State Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) apologized to Wild during the meeting, saying Marquette's request got caught up "in an awful lot of politics."

Three of the eight members of the commission - Plale, Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) and Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) - backed Marquette's request. No formal vote was taken on it.

Kanavas said the new engineering center would have been a "game-changer" for the region's efforts to train more skilled engineers. "We blew it," he said.

About 10 years ago, the state provided $15 million to help build Marquette's Dental School, which cost $30 million.

When the state gave Marquette $15 million ten years ago, did that "open the floodgates" and "'choke off' the state's public colleges and universities"?

Obviously not.

What's the point of the stimulus money anyway?

Isn't it to stimulate the economy and put people to work?

A building project at Marquette would provide jobs. Those employed would get paid and they would spend their earnings and businesses would benefit.

Plus, the project would address the region's need to train more skilled engineers.

Now, thanks to Doyle, the project is on hold.

Too bad Gwen Moore didn't push to convince Doyle to give Marquette the funds it requested.

Remember, she's so proud of the $500,000 of government funds she secured for Marquette's "Poop to Power" program.

Bottom line: Doyle's refusal to give Marquette a measly $10 million in stimulus money is a mistake. The project would have far-reaching, long-term benefits for the city and state that the short-sighted Doyle was too stubborn to permit. Really stupid.