By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House has restored funding for a cancer research center at the University of Missouri - Columbia.
Two days ago, a House committee stripped the money following a walkout by Democrats on the committee.
The $31 million taken away from the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center was restored on the floor of the House today by the chair of the House Budget Committee, Allen Icet (R, Wildwood).
The facility is in the district of Democratic House Member Stephen Webber of Columbia.
"There's been some political games played all week, and that's unfortunate...I think in the end, we were able to demonstrate that this project is important for central Missouri economically, and important for the state of Missouri from a health care perspective," Webber said.
Funding for the cancer center was added on as an amendment to a federal stimulus projects bill.