CONGRESS MUSTN'T STALL HIGHWAY FUNDS FOR STATE

Planning for infrastructure improvements in fiscally unsettled times is tough enough. Now, Missouri and other states have put their road and bridge projects on hold because Congress let its highway funding mechanism lapse. Money for road projects has stopped flowing from Washington to the states, and it won't resume until a new highway bill is in place. While holding forth hope that Congress will fashion legislation that is fair to taxpayers, equitable to states and visionary in its approach to transportation needs, we are puzzled by the reluctance of Congress to get on with this business.

Wayne Muri, Missouri's estimable highway chief, announced last week that the state has canceled plans to let contracts on about $40 million in road projects because the federal highway law expired at the end of September. At least nine other states are in similar shape, and more will join the list next month if legislation is not passed. Some states with unspent federal dollars might go ahead with their programs; others, like Missouri, are living a hand-to-mouth existence that is not of their own making.

If you're looking for fiscal irresponsibility to account for this, the Highway and Transportation Department offices in Jefferson City need not get a glance. Washington is the problem. In 1989, Missouri contributed more than $370 million to the Highway Trust Fund through federal excise taxes on motor fuel. For that same year, Missouri got less than $286 million back. The return: 77 cents on the dollar.

With last year's budget negotiations, a 5-cent gas tax was added for motorists. Half of that, however, has nothing to do with transportation needs; it goes for "reduction of the federal budget deficit." In Missouri, government must make its revenues match its expenditures. In the nation's capital, those constraints don't apply; we all suffer from the resulting mischief.

Thus, Missouri is stalled for now in its attempt to improve its roads and bridges. The money will eventually return from Washington and the needs, which don't come and go as easily as the funding sources, remain grudgingly intact. So, what's the problem?

As Muri points out, the problem is that Missouri, which federal sources say has 10,000 bridges that need replacement, is fighting an uphill battle to begin with. A month's sabbatical in the process or maybe two months, or longer only makes the fight tougher. And federal dollars returning to the state for road projects also serve to put Missourians to work on highway construction jobs. With the sluggish economy, that added employment would be welcome right now.

The point is, this state continues to send its motor fuel taxes to Washington and is not getting its money's worth. The Senate approved a highway bill in June, well ahead of the former bill's expiration. U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, a Cape Girardean who sits on the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, says he is optimistic a bill will be passed and signed into law before Thanksgiving. We want a good bill but we would like it quickly; enough time has passed to get the job done. Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri have critical highway, bridge and employment needs. Congress is slowing down the process that would meet these needs.