Medical college letdown after speculation ends on $100 million earmark

The Times-Tribune (Scranton PA) ^ | 12/22/09 | SARAH HOFIUS HALL

[Born Conservative]

The $100 million was too good to be true.

On Sunday, The New York Times reported Scranton's Commonwealth Medical College would likely be the recipient of a $100 million earmark in the Senate health care bill.

When contacted by a New York Times reporter, Robert D'Alessandri, M.D., the school's dean and president, said such a windfall was news to him.

Dr. D'Alessandri told the reporter he doubted the money was for the state's newest medical school - but anything was possible.

On Monday, The Associated Press ended the speculation, reporting that the money had been put in the bill at the request of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who hopes to claim it for the University of Connecticut.

The money sought by Mr. Dodd provides $100 million for "a health care facility that provides research, inpatient tertiary care, or outpatient clinical services." It must be affiliated with an academic health center at a public research university in the United States "that contains a state's sole public academic medical and dental school."

Atul Grover, chief lobbyist for the Association of American Medical Colleges, told the New York Times he believed that Commonwealth Medical College was a likely candidate.

That was especially surprising to Dr. D'Alessandri because the school is private and is not affiliated with a dental school.

"I knew it wasn't us," he said.

The provision is included in a 383-page series of changes to the health care bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., outlined Saturday. Scattered throughout are numerous items sought by individual lawmakers, many of them directing money explicitly to programs or projects in their home states.

While missing out on the money was a bit of a letdown, Dr. D'Alessandri said such a high amount should not be focused on one area, but shared with schools across the country to help address a physician shortage.

"The thing that we would hope ... that they would look at the issue from a broader perspective," Dr. D'Alessandri said.

[Born Conservative]

Paul Kanjorski has already added pork into legislation for funds specific to a handful of med schools, including this one.

Commonwealth Medical College is brand spanking new. One of the board members is Lewis DeNaples, a local "businessman" with alleged mob ties (he also owned a casino in the Poconos, but had to relinquish it to his daughter after an agreement following a perjury indictment).

Also, a powerful PA State Senator, Bob Mellow, was the driving force in setting up this school. He is mired in ethics violation allegations, including an office he rented at a high cost whose owner was his wife (they have since divorced).

[Born Conservative]

Ping

[Buckeye McFrog]

Frankly, Bob Casey is too dumb to extort $100 million from Harry Reid

[rod1]

and apparently Spector missed out because he was asking for some Groats as can be found in Scottish Law.

[Tribune7]

Little-Bobby-Casey-has-again-failed-his-true-believers ping