GOVERNOR VISITS CAPE GIRARDEAU; HOLDEN SAYS IT'S THIS YEAR OR NEVER FOR HIGHWAY PLAN

Missouri Gov. Bob Holden says his $620 million transportation plan has little chance of winning legislative approval if lawmakers don't pass it this year.

Holden said the future political landscape would make it hard to secure approval of his tax and fee hikes for transportation projects.

Term limits are expected to send about 100 state lawmakers packing in 2002, and statewide political campaigns crowd the calendar in 2003 and 2004.

"If we don't move in 2001 and address this issue, it could be 2009 or 2010 before it gets addressed," Holden told the editorial board of the Southeast Missourian newspaper during a visit to Cape Girardeau Friday afternoon. Those in attendance included Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau.

Even if lawmakers pass Holden's tax plan, it still would have to win voter approval. Holden announced earlier this week that he would consider holding a special election in November.

"We are a long ways from getting this accomplished," Holden said. "The public is going to have a great deal to say."

Holden said his transportation plan wasn't drafted by the Missouri Department of Transportation and that some officials in the agency questioned his proposal to expand the highway commission and create a secretary of transportation position. The secretary would be appointed by the governor.

Holden said his plan includes "a lot of good ideas" floated by lawmakers and seeks to provide increased accountability of MoDOT.

Accountability' stressed

The governor said he would use the "accountability" issue in trying to sell voters on his package of tax and fee increases.

"I am very adamant we have to have good oversight and accountability," Holden said.

The governor said he doesn't want Missourians to view the transportation funding package as his plan or as either a Democratic or Republican proposal. He said he wants the plan to be viewed as a bipartisan issue.

Holden said he deliberately took his time in proposing a transportation plan. "I didn't want to step out front too early," he said. "I think this is too important to have a party label."

The governor said the transportation plan must include funding for all modes of transportation. "I'm trying to retool our economy," he said.

Holden said the transportation plan would improve highway corridors. The governor didn't specify any projects, but he said such road projects would connect most Missouri cities of 5,000 population or more to four-lane highways, which was one of the goals of the failed 15-year highway plan.

The governor has proposed expanding the state highway commission from its current six members to a nine-member board with one member from each congressional district.

But Holden said he would be willing to consider expanding the commission to 10 members with a representative from each of MoDOT's highway districts.