Transportation plan progresses in state Senate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The transportation train is rolling along nicely in the Missouri Senate, the same chamber where a funding package for roads and bridges derailed a year ago.

In the previous effort, the Republican-controlled Senate, during contentious and bitterly personal debate, kept a massive tax plan proposed by Gov. Bob Holden and endorsed by the Democratic-majority House of Representatives from even coming to a vote.

A key foe of that bill, state Sen. Morris Westfall, R-Halfway, is now leading the charge to put a transportation tax proposal on the statewide ballot in August. Though not as expensive to taxpayers as last year's measure, Westfall's bill still would carry a pricetag of almost $500 million a year in new taxes.

Westfall, the Senate transportation chairman, says his proposal is small enough to sell to voters while still having a noticeable impact on road and bridge improvements. However, he warns it wouldn't be a panacea.

"This bill is a significant step toward improving roads in Missouri, but it doesn't solve all the problems," Westfall said.

The Senate gave first-round approval to the bill on Wednesday by acclamation, and a vote to send it to the House is expected this week. Westfall says he has at least 25 votes in support of the bill, seven more than needed for passage.

House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa, says the Senate change of heart on transportation funding is encouraging.

"I'm extremely proud of them," Kreider said. "I never thought that would happen on that issue."

Kreider promises swift action on the bill. With the House having proved last year that it is willing to send a transportation tax to voters, passage is expected to be relatively easy.

Westfall's bill calls for adding 6 cents to the state fuel tax for a total of 23 cents per gallon. It would also impose a three-eighths cent general sales tax.

The new revenue annually would provide $385 million for state roads and bridges, $77 million for city and county roads, $27 million for rail, ports, aviation and mass transit and $9 million to promote ethanol and biodiesel production.

Accountability question

What the measure lacks -- to the dismay of many Republicans -- are accountability provisions to ensure that the Missouri Department of Transportation spends the money as lawmakers and voters intend.

State Sen. Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, failed in his attempt to attach an amendment that would suspend collection of the new taxes if lawmakers didn't concur with MoDOT's plans for the money.

During floor debate, state Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, said that would infringe on the ability of MoDOT's governing board, the State Highways and Transportation Commission, to choose road projects based on merit and need rather than the desires of powerful lawmakers.

"This is putting the Department of Transportation back under the political arm of state government, and we just can't do that," Staples said.

Westfall says he would have liked an accountability provision but didn't hear any ideas that wouldn't erode the commission's constitutional independence.

"Most of what we came up with really would make the commission system ineffective," Westfall said.

However, state Rep. Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, says the GOP House Caucus will likely continue to oppose any transportation bill that doesn't include an overhaul of MoDOT's leadership structure.

"I don't think we're going to look any more kindly on it this year," Jetton said. "The problem is we still haven't addressed reform, credibility and organization."

'That leaking bucket'

The commission in the past had been accused of abusing its independence and reneging on promises. Since half of the commission's six members were replaced last year, most lawmakers have given the reconstituted panel high marks. But Jetton says greater accountability is still needed.

"The commission is on the right path but hasn't reached the point where we can put more money in that leaking bucket," Jetton said. "There are a lot more holes in it."

However, unlike in the Senate, the majority party can shut down House debate on a bill and force a vote -- a tactic used to move the transportation measure forward last year. If House Republicans continue to be obstinate, the same outcome is likely.

The House has its own transportation proposal, which is sponsored by state Rep. Don Koller, D-Summersville. It would raise $630 million a year through a 1-cent sales tax.

Koller, the House transportation chairman, says Westfall's bill will be the likely vehicle for sending a plan to voters, though the $130 million difference between his bill and the Senate version would have to be worked out.

Westfall, who prefers relying on user fees like fuel taxes as much as possible, says a 1-cent sales tax is too much. Koller says he removed fuel taxes from his bill because he fears gasoline prices could hit record highs in August and doom the measure at the ballot box. Still, Koller is hopeful he and Westfall can negotiate a compromise.

"We're not far apart," Koller said.

State Rep. Phillip Britt, D-Kennett, says folks in his Bootheel district are concerned about the condition of their roads. Though he isn't certain of their willingness to pay for improvements through higher taxes, he says voters deserve the chance to make that decision.

"We have an obligation to put something out there for people to vote on and then promote it and encourage people to vote for it," Britt said.

Despite his substantial effort in pushing a transportation package this year, Westfall says the outcome of a statewide election is far from certain.

"If there is any organized opposition from any of the lobbying groups, it is probably down the tubes," Westfall said.

The bills are SB 915 and HB 970.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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