LEGISLATORS CHAMPION HIGHWAY PLAN

JEFFERSON CITY -- More than a dozen Southeast Missouri legislators gathered Tuesday at a meeting arranged by the Cape Girardeau-based Regional Commerce and Growth Association and Southeast Missouri State University to show support for the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department's 15-year plan.

When improvements to the region's road system were planned by the department three years ago, it was assumed the federal portion of the funds would stay at the level promised.

But Rep. Don Koller, D-Summersville, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said after the first year funding dropped to less than what was planned.

"That's what we assumed we would get," Koller said. "Rest assured, if a project is going to southern Missouri you can be certain it's going to get precedence."

Koller and Sen. Danny Stables, D-Eminence, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said "Southeast Missouri is booming so much more now than ever before and there is so much more we can do by putting petty politics aside for the common good of our area of the state."

Koller said the 15-year plan is five years behind schedule.

"Now we have a 20-year plan," he said. "Not a 15-year one. And that's mainly because of a shortfall in federal funds."

RCGA Executive Director Greg Williams said his group and Southeast are "firmly supportive" of the 15-year plan.

"If there are cuts," he said, "we want to make sure they are fair and don't come out of Southeast Missouri like they have in the past."