OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee continued to hedge on his preference for expanded medical education in Spokane, saying today he wouldn't promise to sign or threaten to veto bills that would give WSU legal authority to start its own med school.

Bills that would change state law that says only the University of Washington can have a medical school moved out of the Senate and House higher education committees with strong support this week. The Senate committee voted unanimously to send it for a vote in the full chamber and the House committee sent its version out on a 12-1 vote.

Votes on the bills -- which have no state money attached -- are expected in the full chambers in the coming weeks. 

"It's clear that it has a lot of support in the Legislature," Inslee said at a press conference. "I'll be talking with legislators, if that in fact becomes the majority view in both chambers, about making sure that we can find a way to finance it."

UW is seeking $8 million to expand its medical school program, known as WWAMI for the five Northwest states it serves. WSU is seeking $2.5 million to seek accreditation for a new school based on what it calls a community-based model. Inslee's proposed budget for the 2015-17 biennium is silent on money for medical schools in Spokane, and legislators say the budget decisions are likely to be made late in the session.

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