KBIA Local
(2009-04-30)
Listen Now:
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
The Missouri House still has not come up with a plan on how to spend federal stimulus money.
null
Today it defeated a plan that would have used about 37 million dollars in stimulus funds for three mid-Missouri construction projects.
This included about 31 million dollars for a new cancer center at Ellis Fischel Hospital in Columbia. Other projects included a new Hannibal location of Moberly Area Community College and a crime lab in Kirksville.
Democratic Stephen Webber of Columbia area says the bill skipped the budget committee and that made him and other representatives uncomfortable with the bill.
"I was concerned about the process. I was concerned about using those stabilization funds. But they were trumped by the need to improve the cancer treatment that we have for the citizens of the state of Missouri."
Webber says his two priorities are appropriating funds for Ellis Fischel and finding a way to spend the stimulus money.
"We've seen Ellis Fischel in two or three different bills this year. That's my main concern right now is trying to push that and making sure that happens."
Legislators will have to agree soon on how to spend the stimulus money if they want to receive the money at all. The deadline for Missouri to pass a state budget is May 8.
© Copyright 2012, KBIA
