COMMITTEE PASSES TOWER FUNDING BILL

The House Motor Vehicle Committee passed an aviation bill Tuesday that could provide added funding for the state's general aviation airports.

Under the bill, the state would fund most if not all of the expense of operating the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport control tower. The city currently spends about $125,000 a year to operate the tower.

The city has been footing the bill since the federal government quit funding it in 1995.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, passed the measure after hearing testimony from Cape Girardeau Regional Airport manager Bruce Loy and others.

The committee also heard testimony Monday.

Loy drove to Jefferson City on Monday to testify in support of the bill. But the committee met for only about a half hour before adjourning.

Loy, who didn't have an opportunity to testify, returned to Cape Girardeau.

On Tuesday, he flew back to Jefferson City and testified before the committee.

Also testifying were State Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, and Bob Stuart, who manages Malden's airport and industrial park.

The bill would put about $3.5 million into a Missouri Department of Transportation fund to finance improvements to general aviation airports. The money from the state's tax on jet fuel, currently goes into Missouri's general revenue fund.

The measure easily passed the Senate. Loy said its fate in the House could hinge on whether Gov. Mel Carnahan lends his support to the measure.

Otherwise, the bill may not get to the full House for a vote before the session ends May 15, Loy said.

"It is going to be tough," he said.