Mid-Missouri Woman Doesn’t Want Gas Tax Cut

A mid-Missouri woman who lost a child and her father in a car wreck shares her story of tragedy, hoping to convince lawmakers in Washington they shouldn’t touch the federal gas tax. St. Thomas resident Marilyn Heregon joins Senator Bond during a Jefferson City news conference to oppose a repeal of the 4-point-3 cent hike in the federal gas tax enacted in 1993. Bond says it wouldn’t help bring down the cost of gas, but would cost Missouri $127-Million a year in highway construction dollars. Heregon says less construction money means more dangerous driving conditions, such as those she says contributed to the highway accident in 1987 that took the life of her 8-year-old daughter and her 83-year-old father. Heregon suffered serious injuries in the accident and was hospitalized for two months. According to statistics provided at the news conference, more than 5,000 people died on Missouri highways between 1992 and ’96 due to deteriorating roads. Heregon says a rollback of the gas tax would cause more to die.