It looks like the competition for the limited funding dollars in Idaho higher education is starting to brew toward a boil.

Boise State president Bob Kustra was giddy after the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win. But in recent radio show interviews he is quick to point out that the game was two years ago, and that Boise State is bringing in research dollars.

However, with Senator Lary Craig's impending departure -- many are worried that the lack of such a senior senator will negatively affect some of the large traditional pork dollars -- something that the experienced and well connected Craig has been able to bring to Idaho colleges for many years.

In Pocatello, Idaho State University president Arthur Vailas has initiated plans for a medical mission with an 8 year timeline.

But University of Idaho President Tim White is a not a supporter of these recent efforts by ISU to create a medical school on its campus, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

The University of Idaho is charged with producing doctors for the state, and does that as part of the WAMI program at the University of Washington in Seattle, White said.

The joint medical school project also trains students from Wyoming, Alaska and Montana and is a high-quality, cost-effective way to produce doctors, White said. Students take classes at both Idaho and Washington.

With the additional funding dilemma of an evident national recession, it will be interesting to see which Idaho universities and colleges come out on top in this battle for finite resources.