UA law school funding appears saved

However, Sen. Randall Gnant, R-Scottsdale, said the plan has not been officially removed from the table.

Gnant, the driving force behind the proposal to phase out the state's law- school subsidy, added that the final recommendation from the Legislature could be revealed as soon as tomorrow.

Gnant cautioned university officials that the number may change again before a final budget is approved.

"This is sort of like the first quarter in a basketball game," he said. "What you need to watch for is the last three minutes of the fourth quarter."

While Gnant was cautious in addressing law school cuts, other legislators were more optimistic that the University of Arizona, and particularly the law school, would avoid budget reductions.

Sen. Linda Aguirre, D-Phoenix, said she has heard in "general conversation" with her colleagues that the UA can expect a friendly proposal.

"I believe the law school will be spared," Aguirre said, adding that she thought Gnant did not have the necessary votes to approve the law-school budget cuts.

Rep. Mike Gardner, R-Tempe, said he has been told by leadership that the universities will not suffer any budget cuts.

If the law school budget funding is restored, Gnant said earlier this week he might propose another plan that would force in-state graduates to practice law in Arizona. Under his "West Point" model, students would have to serve as Arizona attorneys for the same amount of years they spent in law school.

The service would compensate the state for subsidizing a chunk of in-state tuition for law-school students, he said.

Last month, Gnant introduced a bill that proposed giving UA's law school the option of waiving tuition for in-state students. The students would be required to serve either in a rural area of the state or as a public prosecutor or defender in any city.

Gnant said the bill, which has already been approved by the Senate Education and Appropriation Committees, would be unaffected by the "West Point" model.

Despite the budget-cut reprieve that the universities may receive tomorrow, Gnant said he was disappointed with the negotiation efforts offered by the three state universities.

"As we have worked through this budget process, with one exception, every single agency has worked with the Legislature ," he said. "The one exception is the universities... they are the 500-pound gorilla."

UA President Peter Likins said, contrary to Gnant's accusations, the state universities came to the bargaining table with the best interest of higher education in mind.

"I'm trying to accomplish the appropriate goals of the University of Arizona . . . and that sometimes requires conflict," Likins said, adding "I certainly don't feel like a gorilla of any kind."