Gov. Jay Nixon decided not to veto a $31 million allocation for the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. But that doesn't mean the project doesn't face future obstacles.
     Nixon announced that he will withhold funding for the University of Missouri-Columbia project - as well as three other higher education capital projects. Nixon ended up vetoing a number of projects connected to the University of Missouri-Columbia in rural portions of the state.
     The new Ellis Fischel Cancer Center is part of a seven-story "medical tower" on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. The project – which was paid for with federal stimulus dollars – will encompass two floors of that structure.
     On the one hand, Nixon's decision means the legislature won't have to reallocate the money or try to overturn the governor's veto. But by withholding the money, Nixon can effectively cling onto the funds for an undetermined period of time.
     Nixon cited the worsening economy for his decision-making, arguing that he doesn't want Missouri to go through budget nightmare of other states. He explained his reasoning in this Web video.<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nsgJomfG5I>
     "These are important projects, we hope to find a cost-effective way of moving forward on them," Nixon said. "But the dollars, in short, just aren't there."
     Because of Nixon's decision, Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, said people will know that the funding for the project "will be there, ultimately."
"And second, the possibility exists that we can get some of money released if it's needed to make the tower go," Kelly said. "So, I'm very encouraged."
     When asked if the move would delay the construction of structure, Kelly said "I don't necessarily think that."
     "It's possible, but not by any stretch of the imagination likely," Kelly said. "It's certainly
Gov. Jay Nixon decided not to veto a $31 million allocation for the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. But that doesn't mean the project doesn't face future obstacles.

Nixon announced that he will withhold funding for the University of Missouri-Columbia project - as well as three other higher education capital projects. Nixon ended up vetoing a number of projects connected to the University of Missouri-Columbia in rural portions of the state.

The new Ellis Fischel Cancer Center is part of a seven-story "medical tower" on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. The project – which was paid for with federal stimulus dollars – will encompass two floors of that structure.

On the one hand, Nixon's decision means the legislature won't have to reallocate the money or try to overturn the governor's veto. But by withholding the money, Nixon can effectively cling onto the funds for an undetermined period of time.

Nixon cited the worsening economy for his decision-making, arguing that he doesn't want Missouri to go through budget nightmare of other states. He explained his reasoning in this Web video.<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nsgJomfG5I>

"These are important projects, we hope to find a cost-effective way of moving forward on them," Nixon said. "But the dollars, in short, just aren't there."

Because of Nixon's decision, Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, said people will know that the funding for the project "will be there, ultimately."

"And second, the possibility exists that we can get some of money released if it's needed to make the tower go," Kelly said. "So, I'm very encouraged."

When asked if the move would delay the construction of structure, Kelly said "I don't necessarily think that."

"It's possible, but not by any stretch of the imagination likely," Kelly said. "It's certainly possible."

Click here<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P593OWd2IVY> to see more of Kelly's interview.

possible."

Click here<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P593OWd2IVY> to see more of Kelly's interview.