OLYMPIA Washington State University is two steps closer to starting its own medical school inSpokane.

Legislative committees in each chamber agreed overwhelmingly Tuesday that a state law restricting medical education to the University of Washington should be changed. But both indicated tough decisions lie ahead on paying for a new school. The bills would give WSU the authority to offer medical education at the Spokane campus but dont set aside money to doit.

The Senate Higher Education Committee unanimously sent the medical school authorization bill to the full Senate after rejecting on a party-line vote an amendment

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OLYMPIA Washington State University is two steps closer to starting its own medical school inSpokane.

Legislative committees in each chamber agreed overwhelmingly Tuesday that a state law restricting medical education to the University of Washington should be changed. But both indicated tough decisions lie ahead on paying for a new school. The bills would give WSU the authority to offer medical education at the Spokane campus but dont set aside money to doit.

The Senate Higher Education Committee unanimously sent the medical school authorization bill to the full Senate after rejecting on a party-line vote an amendment that tried to sort out a funding dispute between the two universities over the WWAMI medical school training they shared in Spokane until lastfall.

Funding questions will be decided later by the budget writers, Republicanssaid.

Ways and Means is the proper venue for those discussions to be held, Sen. Mike Baumgartner, R-Spokane, said. I do believe it will be workedout.

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WSU med school bills advance - Wed, 11 Feb 2015 PST