CHEYENNE – The Wyoming House fought off an attempt Wednesday to remove a controversial budget earmark that would give the University of Wyoming $8 million in state money to improve its athletics programs.
The House voted down a proposal from Rep. Charles Pelkey, D-Laramie, on the first day that amendments to the state’s two-year budget bill were considered.
His amendment would have removed language specifying that UW would get up to $8 million in state funds over the two-year period if the school raises matching private contributions for its “athletic competitiveness” efforts.
Instead, Pelkey’s proposal would have redirected that $8 million into to UW’s block grant that it gets from the state.