Representative Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) says Missouri is going to become a second class state if transportation funding isn’t improved. He says urban state lawmakers are out of touch with the transportation needs in rural Missouri.
Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville)
“In north Missouri and throughout rural Missouri, we have big issues with transportation. Our bridges are bad and our roads are bad. I think we need to address transportation as a priority,” said Walker.
Walker says fulfilling the state’s infrastructure needs goes hand-in-hand with economic development.
“We won’t have economic development or anything else and everything will suffer,” said Walker.
The Senate has given initial approval to a bill that would ask voters if the state’s fuel tax should be increased from 17 cents to nearly 23 cents per gallon. A final vote is expected Monday.
House Republican leadership opposes a tax hike to pay for roads and bridges.
Missouri’s fuel tax is one of the lowest in the country.
J.B. Connelly of KRES contributed to this story.
