Not my first choice

Phil Knight, Oregon’s wealthiest citizen and 14th wealthiest US citizen, recently bestowed a $500 million matching challenge grant upon Oregon Health Sciences University.  OHSU would receive the grant if they could raise other money to “match” it.  It would apparently allow OHSU to build the preeminent cancer research institute in the country.  OHSU has asked the Oregon legislature to authorize bonds that would indemnify Oregon taxpayers to the tune of $13 million a year for 20 years starting in 2016 when the bonds would be sold. This would not be part of the “match” but would allow OHSU to prepare a site and recruit for the project.

I think it’s wonderful that OHSU can attract the support exemplified by Phil Knight’s challenge grant.  Certainly no one can question the worthiness of supporting such a goal as OHSU’s cancer institute.  But when tax money comes into the equation, I think OHSU has to line up like everybody else.  What are the benefits that can accrue to Oregonians by supporting OHSU with their tax money?   The Oregonian editorial board offers:

The investment ... in OHSU would move the needle on employment, tax revenue, education and quality of life for all Oregonians. Construction work would provide 3,500 jobs annually in the initial years of the expansion; the Knight Cancer Institute would create an estimated 380 permanent full-time jobs, with some salaries exceeding $100,000; and the state would eventually receive more than $5 million annually in income taxes. Throughout, the institute would share its evolving expertise with practitioners in Astoria, Salem, Roseburg, Corvallis, Medford, The Dalles and Bend – all while expanding its reach elsewhere in Oregon. Advances in the fight against cancer would be owned statewide. Cancer's cure, should it be found at the institute, would be Oregon's pride.

So … point for point, how does this list not apply as a rationale for putting the same money or more into Oregon’s public schools?  The center is certainly a sexy and glamorous trophy but the schools asked first. The schools are not funded for adequacy, let alone national preeminence. If we’re making a choice, the schools deserve to catch up, not stay at the end of the line.

We should beat cancer.  Cancer is bad.  OHSU is lucky to have talented and connected fundraisers and friends like the Knights.  We wish them the best. Everybody needs a sugar daddy and I’m still waiting for ours. So for now I hope they can make it without me. I’ve got other priorities at the moment.  Name the cancer institute after Phil and put my money into the schools.  If there’s room on the building for my name along with the other taxpayers, put all our names on the building.  But I’ll settle for civic anonymity and fully-funded schools.