Fischel funding back in

Intro: The Missouri House perfected a bill that restores funding for Columbia's Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.

Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:44
OutCue: SOC

Hours before the vote, there was no debate about an amendment to get $31 million in Ellis Fischel funding back into the measure.

Columbia Democratic Representative Chris Kelly says he was delighted but not surprised.

Actuality: KELLY8.WAV
Run Time: 00:08
Description: "I think it's fine. I thought it was fine all the way along. I thought we had a little performance art in the middle, but that all - a little bump in the road, it's all taken care of."

Columbia Democratic Representative Stephen Webber says House members realized the project's importance.

Actuality: WEBBER5.WAV
Run Time: 00:09
Description: "It's an incredibly important project, number one, just for cancer patients and for our ability to do cancer research. Second, as a construction project for central Missouri."

The money is part of a $1.6 billion federal stimulus spending bill.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: Ellis Fischel Cancer Center officials say they are ready to move out of their crowded building, after the Missouri House restored $31 million for a new home.

Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:43
OutCue: SOC

The House perfected a bill that includes Ellis Fischel funding.

Monday, Republicans in the House Rules Committee stripped Fischel's money after Democrats, including a Columbia lawmaker, walked out over a rules dispute.

Medical Director Charles Caldwell says he's glad lawmakers saw the center's importance.

Actuality: CALD1.WAV
Run Time: 00:13
Description: "When this initial news came down that it had been stripped out, we were obviously very disappointed, largely because it was unexpected and secondly, because we didn't understand why."

If approved, Caldwell says the university could seek construction bids in six to eight months.

Officials want to relocate the center to the MU campus.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: The debate continues over what a $1 billion income tax cut will do for Missourians.

Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:42
OutCue: SOC

The Missouri House perfected a $1.6 billion federal stimulus spending bill, including the tax cut.

The measure would lower the state income tax from 6 percent to 5.5 percent over the next two years.

Democrats oppose the way the Republican majority is spending stimulus dollars.

They say the cut will only give a few hundred dollars to the wealthiest Missourians.

But the GOP says the average taxpayer will get $500.

Republicans also say there's no legal problem with the plan to use federal money for a tax cut.

United States Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill has said the federal government didn't have tax breaks in mind when it approved the stimulus plan.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.