Farm Bureau endorses policy change

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Members of the Missouri Farm Bureau have endorsed a policy change that could boost the chances for a transportation tax increase.

Delegates to the 93,000-member organization's annual convention voted without objection Monday to support the change. A final, largely routine vote was expected today during the gathering at the Lake of the Ozarks.

About 500 delegates representing all 114 counties participated in Monday's vote, which is important for those who support a transportation package in the 2002 legislative session. Farm Bureau opposition has often doomed funding proposals, including those offered in the 2001 session.

The policy change would offer support, under certain conditions, to "a reasonable increase in state taxes for highways and bridges." It specifically mentions potential increases in the gasoline tax, vehicle registration fees or the state sales tax.

Instead of lobbying against legislation, Farm Bureau backers would be willing to work with lawmakers, Gov. Bob Holden and other transportation interest groups on a potential funding plan.

The policy shift is important because many rural legislators listen closely to the Farm Bureau's recommendations.

"I think our members are in a position to say that we do recognize there are more transportation needs than there is funding available," said Estil Fretwell, a spokes-man for Farm Bureau.

"We are ready to enter into discussions with the state policy-makers and other state transportation interests to try and reach a consensus on how to fund those needs."

The type of policy change that the Farm Bureau is considering already is on the mind of Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Morris Westfall, who opposed transportation tax plans earlier this year.

Westfall has said he is considering which type of tax increase would be best to refer to a statewide vote.

Commission changes

Senators like Westfall and Farm Bureau leadership all cite a recent change in the composition of the state Highways and Transportation Commission -- specifically the departure of St. Louis businessman S. Lee Kling, who had been chairman.

Under Kling's leadership, the commission abandoned an underfunded, 15-year highway spending blueprint that favored rural roads. In its place, the commission favored a shorter-term plan that allots half of the highway money to the St. Louis and Kansas City areas and half to the rest of the state.

The senators and Farm Bureau hope the change in the commission's membership will mean a new approach -- one that minimizes the urban-rural divide.