{ prima facie } the Temple Law newspaper

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives could determine the fate of Temple University's annual allotment of $175 million in Commonwealth funds as early as August 17, when the House of Representatives returns to Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania Representative John Taylor and other Pennsylvania representatives want to withhold the entirety of Temple University's Commonwealth funding, in the amount of $175 million dollars, because they disagreed with the university's recent decision to convert a university-run hospital to an ambulatory care center.

The House members will cast a vote on the funding when they return, according to an Aug. 11 e-mail to the Temple University community from Ken Lawrence Jr., Senior Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs.

"We have received tremendous bipartisan support as a result of [university supporters'] e-mails and calls," Lawrence wrote in his e-mail. "State Representative Curtis Thomas, State Representative Jewell Williams and State Senator Shirley Kitchen, who represent Temple University's main campus and many of our students, have been tremendous with their leadership."

Temple University staff have created a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/TUGovtAffairs to provide "updates on the Commonwealth appropriation and other legislative issues facing Temple University," Lawrence said.

A university web page devoted to the Commonwealth funds topic lists Pennsylvania representatives and senators who have pledged their support for Temple University and who will vote to provide the usual annual funding this year.

TU funding update: http://www.temple.edu/newsroom/2009_2010/08/announcements/state_funds.ht...

Prima Facie will provide more news as events develop.

More news at:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/52497917.html?cmpid=15585797