By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – In a surprising reversal, the Missouri House has defeated a bill that would have used $336 million in federal stimulus dollars to pay for numerous projects, just one day after giving the measure first-round approval.
It originally contained projects of statewide interest, but numerous regional projects were added on, prompting 32 Republicans to join 50 Democrats in voting "no." House Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley (R, Perryville) says there's a chance the bill could be brought back for another vote.
"It has to be done in three legislative days, and so this is a decision that will be made by Monday or Tuesday of next week...beyond that time, it's a violation of the rules," Tilley said.
One of the projects in the bill was the Ellis Fischell Cancer Center in Columbia. It had been added back onto the bill after being stripped out because a group of Democrats had staged a walkout from a committee meeting.