TALENT WARNS AGAINST TOBACCO MONEY INFLATING GOVERNMENT

Missouri's tobacco settlement money should be returned to the taxpayers and not used to expand state government, says U.S. Rep. Jim Talent.

The St. Louis-area Republican congressman and candidate for governor voiced his views Thursday through his campaign manager, Brad Scott.

Talent didn't discuss the issue during his visit to Cape Girardeau on Wednesday. But Thursday Scott discussed the candidate's current thoughts on the subject.

Missouri House Speaker Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, has said tobacco funds should be set aside in a voter-approved trust fund with the majority of proceeds going to health care and anti-smoking efforts.

Scott said Talent is weighing the various proposals being put forth by state lawmakers, but has yet to settle on a specific plan.

Talent doesn't want the money used to foster a bigger bureaucracy. "The money should be spent for the benefit of the taxpayers and not to benefit the government," Scott said.

It also should be spent to benefit the broadest constituency, he said. "The taxpayers overall should accrue the benefits," said Scott.

On another issue, Talent said Wednesday in Cape Girardeau that people pay twice for toll roads.

Scott clarified Talent's position Thursday. He said the congressman's comment was in reference to the roads on the 15-year highway improvements plan.

"We believe people have been taxed for those once," said Scott. "Therefore, those should be completed without a tax increase."

Those road projects in the 15-year plan shouldn't be turned into toll roads, Scott said.

He said Talent isn't opposed to tolls to fund new road projects desired by local governments if they aren't on the state's drawing board.

Talent believes government should be flexible when it comes to road and bridge funding, Scott said.