Important vote missed

The 2015 legislative session was historic, but not in the way Missourians had hoped. The session began with the tragic suicide of State Auditor Tom Schweich, followed a month later by the suicide of Mr. Schweich's media director, Spence Jackson. It ended with the resignation of Speaker of the House John Diehl.

Against this backdrop, filibusters and procedural moves kept important legislation from coming before the Senate and House for a vote, including Sen. Doug Libla's bill to increase the state fuel tax.

We have to do better. By all accounts the votes were there in the Senate and the House to pass a small increase in the fuel tax -- a user-based fee -- that would have prevented the loss of hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars and been the first step toward stemming the reduction in highway and bridge preservation activities across the state. If passed, Missouri would have realized new revenue beginning Jan. 1, 2016, to begin addressing this crisis. That opportunity is gone -- and that sorely needed revenue is lost forever.

The session, however, was historic in another way -- one on which Missourians must build. While the lack of new transportation funding was the great disappointment of the session, it is remarkable that it became one of the big stories at all. Transportation funding was not even on the agenda for this session.

Experienced Capitol watchers said that after putting Amendment 7 on the ballot last year following a two-year effort, the General Assembly was moving on to other issues. And that is exactly what would have happened except for the broad base of support from a coalition of interested parties that included not only contractors and engineers, but cities, counties, chambers of commerce, industry groups and many more. This coalition would never say "die" and continued to press legislators to the very end to take action.

There was extraordinary leadership in the Senate from Sen. Libla, who skillfully guided his legislation, doggedly pursuing passage until the closing minutes. When a few senators sought to prevent a vote, President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey and Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard gave valuable debate time in an effort to overcome the filibuster.

The final week or so of the session saw Gov. Jay Nixon travel the state to call on legislators to take action. The governor appeared in Kansas City with me within 24 hours of our closing of the Route 291 bridge over the Missouri River to emphasize to the entire state exactly what we have at stake. Upon returning to Jefferson City, he rolled up his sleeves and worked with legislators to try to solve the logjam.

Our Democratic governor and our Republican senate leadership linking arms to fight for transportation funding -- who would have ever thought it possible a few months ago? This is the history that I want to remember and on which we must build.

We must stay the course and continue to educate Missourians on the need for all of our leaders to act in the best interest of all Missourians; to build coalitions, to find common ground and to promote compromise for public good.

I mourn the loss this session, but celebrate the spirit of all those who never gave up.

Stephen Miller is the chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.