Republican House Leader Praises And Criticizes Transportation Plan

The Republican Leader in the Missouri House is offering both praise and criticism of Governor Bob Holden’s $620-million transportation plan. State Representative Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods likes that Governor Holden has gone along with the G.O.P.’s proposal to create a Transportation Secretary to be appointed by the Governor. She’s also pleased the plan uses the Republican proposal to end the transfer of gas tax money to other state agencies. But Hanaway is concerned with the suggestion that sales and gas taxes be raised to finance the plan. She wonders whether Missouri taxpayers will buy into the idea following what she says are broken promises made with the abandonment of the 1992 15-year highway plan.