Blunt vows to halt to diversion of highway funds

If elected governor this fall, Republican Secretary of State Matt Blunt says he would work to end the annual diversion of $180 million in highway user fees to other departments in state government and seek stronger control of day-to-day operations of the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Blunt touted his plans to improve the state's transportation system at four campaigns stops Monday, including one in Cape Girardeau. In all, he plans to make 20 stops around the state this week to talk about his plan to improve transportation.

He said he wants to change the way the Missouri Department of Transportation is run by having the governor appoint a transportation director to run MoDOT and by adding two new positions to the state's Highways and Transportation Commission.

One new board member would represent air transportation and mass transit. The other would represent freight and river transportation, he said.

Appointment of a MoDOT director and the expansion of the highway commission both would require voter approval, Blunt told about 20 supporters gathered on the grounds of Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus near the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

Over the past 10 years, $1.6 billion in highway fund revenue has been used by other state agencies. More than $43 million annually goes to the state auditor's office, the state treasurer's office and the Department of Revenue for administrative purposes, he said.

Transportation tax money should be spent on transportation, not other governmental services, he said.

Those agencies that would lose the transportation money could make it up through improved technology and better management practices, Blunt said.

Jackson lawyer John Lichtenegger, who greeted Blunt, said the Republican candidate has "a road map for accountability and progress."

Blunt's Democratic opponents, Gov. Bob Holden and State Auditor Claire McCaskill, have addressed the diversion issue. too.

Holden has proposed to limit road fund transfers. McCaskill has volunteered to forgo road funding for the auditor's office in the next state budget.

Amid the noise of highway traffic, Blunt promised to improve Missouri's roads and bridges, which he said are ranked among the worst in the nation. He said voters should not accept less.

"If I am elected governor, I want the people of this state to look at the conditions of their roads and bridges on Election Day. If they aren't better in four years, I want them to hold me accountable," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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