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Governor Mike Parson, surrounded by local, state and national legislators, announced the success of his plan to replace 250 bridges around Missouri– including the $238 million 1-70 Rocheport Bridge.
On a bluff overlooking the bridge and the Missouri River, Sen. Roy Blunt joined the governor in explaining the work it took to get the money needed.
The State Highways and Transportation Commission has approved a proposed project list for Amendment 7 on the August ballot, which proposes raising the sales tax three-quarters of one percent to pay for transportation projects over ten years.
Transportation Department Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger presents the Amendment 7 project list as MODOT Director Dave Nichols watches.
The 800 projects on the list include replacement of 4 major bridges, improvements to ports, rail, airports, public transportation, pedestrian infrastructure in all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis, and the single biggest project: 500-million dollars to reconstruct I-70 to add a third lane in both directions.
See the list approved Wednesday by the Commission
The approval means voters can now see what projects the Department of Transportation says it will commit to doing if they approve that tax issue next month, that would generate an estimated 534-million dollars annually for transportation for the next 10 years.
Transportation Department Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger says some projects were taken off the list when local public comment showed that other work would be more important to a region, and says the list includes more specifics and less generality.
Commissioner Joe Carmichael says other projects not on the list might also be undertaken by local governments if Amendment 7 passes and makes them more affordable.
An opponent of asking voters to support transportation with a one-cent sales tax for ten years says it’s “illogical” coming from lawmakers who also want to cut taxes.
Senator John Lamping
Legislative budget estimates are that the proposed ten-year tax would generate about $720-million annually. Senator John Lamping (R-St. Louis) noted in a Senate Transportation Committee hearing Wednesday that members of the Republican majority in both chambers are pursuing major tax cuts.
“The $600-million to $900-million that we have agreed to remove from General Revenue … that’s the funding source. That could serve as potential funding source for roads,” Lamping tells the House sponsor of the proposal, Representative Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair). Lamping says that contradicts the argument that the state doesn’t have the money to fund roads.
Hinson argues that a legislature can’t be counted on to fund transportation out of General Revenue.
“Ask the school districts and the veterans how that’s working out for them, the promises that the General Assembly has made in the past,” Hinson tells Lamping. “We’re not fully funding veterans programs, we’re not fully funding the school foundation formula.”
Lamping argues that his proposal to permanently redirect a half-percent of sales or use taxes to the state’s road fund is a way to ensure that transportation remains funded, even out of General Revenue. Opponents of his proposal say funding transportation from General Revenue risks inserting politics into transportation decisions.
Senator Jason Holsman
Senator Jason Holsman (D-Kansas City) says he supports the transportation tax because of the projected funding shortfall for MODOT, but he also questions asking for that tax increase while Republican lawmakers push for a tax cut.
“My concern … is the perception and the messaging that we’re sending to the people,” says Holsman. “From a social science standpoint is it wise to reduce your revenues and then ask your voters to increase the burden on them?” he asks Hinson.
“Some people would probably agree with you that it’s probably not the wisest thing to do,” Hinson answers.
Lamping also questions whether $720-million would be enough to provide for maintaining Missouri’s current infrastructure and new projects. He notes projections that the Transportation Department’s budget could be as low as $350-million by 2017, and that maintaining roads cost about $700-million.
“Are they going to not repair the roads while they’re building these projects?” asks Lamping.
Hinson says he doesn’t know if the projects that would be seen would be considered new, rather than repair and maintenance. He points to projects such as those to widen shoulders and add rumble strips to lettered routes.
Hinson’s proposal cleared the House last week 96-53.
Construction continues on the new bridge across the Mississippi River. Photo courtesy of Illinios and Missouri Department’s of Transportation.
Legislation that would name the new I-70 bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Louis—which is currently being constructed and will span Missouri and Illinois—the “Stan Musial Memorial Bridge,” gained bipartisan steam as the Senate delegations from both states announced their support for the effort. The bill now has the bipartisan support of Senators Claire McCaskill, Dick Durbin, Roy Blunt, and Mark Kirk.
“I’m thrilled to have all four of us working together to honor such a great ballplayer, and more than that, a great person,” McCaskill said. “I’m confident that once we’re successful, the ‘Stan-span’ will remind future generations of a role model and hometown hero.”
“Stan Musial was the best ballplayer ever to wear a Cardinals uniform and one of the best ever to play the game of baseball. He was my hero when I was a boy and he remains one of my heroes to this day,” said Durbin. “On the field and off, Stan Musial was always a gentleman, always a champion. He exemplified the values of sportsmanship, discipline, hard work, grace and consistency. I am proud to be working with Senators McCaskill, Kirk and Blunt in support of this bill to name the I-70 bridge, the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge. It is a fitting honor for this American hero and the values he stood for.”
“Stan Musial was a great part of our community, our state, and the game of baseball for a long time,” said Blunt. “Naming this bridge after Stan is a way for us to ensure that his legacy lives on.”
“As both a World War II veteran and baseball great, Stan Musial leaves behind a legacy defined by commitment, kindness and hard work and I am pleased to join this bi-partisan effort to name the new I-70 bridge in his honor,” said Senator Mark Kirk.
The senators will work to advance the bill through the Environment and Public Works Committee so it can be brought to the Senate floor.
The man who was governor the last time Missouri passed a large bond proposal says lawmakers must focus on identifying needs and how they will be met, if they want to get one passed now.
Kit Bond was the Governor when Missouri passed its last major bond proposal in 1982.
Kit Bond says when a bond package was passed under his administration, the state was in a tight fiscal situation.
“There was a deficit in the budget and the federal revenue sharing with the states had been cut off, and we badly needed upgrades to our prison system and to comply with the handicap accessibility, so the bond issue was the only way to get it.”
Lawmakers are debating whether to include transportation in a bonding proposal, or to perhaps have a separate bond proposal just for transportation. Bond says it’s not likely a bond proposal could be enough to support transportation.
“I think you’re going to have to have probably some revenue immediately and some revenue to be paying off the transportation part of the bonds, so I think you’re going to need bonds and revenue to support transportation.”
He notes he has advocated for passage of a transportation tax.
“The most direct would be gas tax increase … we’re one of the lowest around … or there are other taxes since there are some automobiles that don’t burn gas that are on the highway … or they have talked about some kind of sales tax, but if we don’t get some additional revenues in pretty soon, I-70’s not only going to be a parking lot it’s going to be a parking lot that looks like a gravel road.”
Bond says while there could be local projects that merit state money, particularly if they have a statewide impact, if the proposal becomes loaded down with local projects it could make it overly complicated for voters.
“I think you have to have it rather straightforward and you can’t put a whole bunch of individual projects or put out a laundry list because if voters don’t understand it they’re not going to be willing to support it. You have to have not only the consent of the voters but the understanding of the voters when you ask them to vote for it.”
Governor Jay Nixon has yet to take a position on a bonding proposal. Bond’s advice to him?
“Do what’s best for the state. I’m sure he will.”
More than one bond proposal will be debated in the state legislature in the session that begins in three weeks. The list of projects those would fund has not been determined, and some supporters want it to include some highway and bridge work.
Senator Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City). Photo courtesy, Missouri State Senate Communications.
Senator Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) is the vice-chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He says the costs of transportation are too high to include in those proposals, that would ask Missourians to approve the sale of $950 million in bonds.
“The resources contained within the bond dollar amounts … that they’ve filed could be more appropriate and a better value if we concentrated that more on structures.”
Kehoe says other ideas are being floated that could benefit the state’s highway system.
“Senator (John) Lamping has filed a tax reform package and part of that package is going to include language in it that would potentially look at some type of sales tax increase with an offsetting taxpayer refund, so that would keep it cost-neutral to the citizens. There is an independent group, Missouri Transportation Alliance, who have worked very hard in the state for the last several years that are proposing a couple of the other different options for Missourians to look at as far as funding or resources for transportation.”
Kehoe says now is a good time for passage of a new funding plan for roads, bridges and railways for the same reason bonding issue proponents say the time is right to approve those: interest rates on money are at an all-time low.
He wants to see a plan approved that will provide stable, long-term funding and hold the Department of Transportation accountable.
“I would prefer a plan that has something that meets the needs of the transportation system that has some type of sunset mechanism so that citizens can feel like there’s an opportunity to check in every so often and make sure that the dollars that they devote to transportation and infrastructure are being spent wisely, and that the projects are being done according to the time and budget needs of the various communities.”
Kehoe adds, Missouri could soon have to put up more money to keep getting its current level of federal money.
“The newest (federal) reauthorization bill has some trigger mechanisms in it where the State of Missouri’s match to get some of the federal dollars is going to continue to go up a little bit, so three and four years from now, just our match to get to the dollars that we get from the feds today is going to become significantly higher.”
The session begins January 9.
AUDIO: Mike Lear interviews Mike Kehoe, 9:10