A controversial plan to bring a $150 million cancer treatment center to Atlanta got a step closer to reality Wednesday, after the Georgia Senate narrowly voted to allow "destination cancer hospitals" in the state.

The Illinois-based Cancer Treatment Centers of America has been lobbying hard to set up shop in Georgia but has been blocked by the state's "certificate of need" rule.

That law, created to prevent an oversupply of medical facilities, stops out-of-state providers from offering health care services in Georgia.

Senators voted 31 to 23 to pass SB 433, which creates a loophole to the law that will allow the holistic-based CTCA to slip through.

It was a somber and emotional day in the chamber as senators recounted their own families' experiences with the disease.

Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) broke down at the podium as he talked about his sister's painful death from cancer. He urged his fellow senators to vote to approve the bill.

"Don't think about money, don't think about politics, don't think about whether you're coming back here," he said.

The Chamber of Commerce has opposed CTCA's expansion and pushed lawmakers to insulate Georgia's hospitals from competition. In a letter to lawmakers, Chamber president George M. Israel urged them to re-think the bill.

"It is important to protect one of Georgia's most critical existing industries — our hospital employers — from potential competitors that wish to change the rules in mid-stream, especially at a time when many of our community providers are at financial risk," he wrote.

Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams (R-Lyons), who sponsored the bill, said that argument doesn't hold water.

"When you boil this right down, it's all about greed," he said. "It's about greed."

His voice grew loud as he argued passionately for the bill.

"Those who don't want it are connected to the money," he said, "and those who do are connected to the cancer."

S.B. 433 gives an exception to the cancer hospital — based on its promise that most patients would come from out of state. CTCA offers cancer treatment and alternative therapies, including spiritual guidance and nutrition.

Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton), whose wife was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, said he doesn't see the center as competition to "our good hospitals and our good oncologists."

"It's free enterprise and we need to have a good look at CON in general and see if it's really serving the purpose."