Supporters of a sales tax to get Missouri’s transportation system back to financial health are pinning their hopes on the legislature instead of a petition campaign now.      

Senator Mike Kehoe says the petition campaign has found the costs  higher than expected.  And a lawsuit threatens to invalidate any signatures already gathered and to delay the petition effort.  He has resurrected his bill that died on the last day of the 2013 session when it ran into opposition from three fellow Senators.

Kehoe says supporters will know by mid-May if his bill has made it. If not, they’ll have a few weeks to gather signatures to get the issue on the November ballot. 

The same three Senators who blocked a vote on his bill last year remain in the Senate.  He hopes earlier debate will enable the proposal to get past the three opponents this year.

AUDIO: Kehoe interview 1:24