KEEP THE SPENDING DOGS AT BAY

The State Office of Administration estimates that the 15-year highway plan is headed for a $14 billion shortfall over its life span. But rather than recommend that the transportation department get a handle on the plan, a governor's commission suggests more taxes to help bail it out.

Gov. Mel Carnahan's Total Transportation Commission recommended asking Missouri voters to boost the state sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar to raise more than $500 million annually for highway needs. It has even been suggested that a surplus of state revenue, which is supposed to be returned with interest to Missourians if the courts don't rule otherwise, be used to make up the shortfall.

Missouri lawmakers aren't taking to the ideas, and they shouldn't. The Legislature imposed the 6-cent gas tax for the plan to begin with. Voters didn't get a chance to decide if they even wanted a 15-year plan, much less whether they wanted to pay extra to have it.

It takes a lot of audacity to suggest that even a single penny of the surplus revenue Missourians are entitled to under the Hancock Amendment be diverted to state highways, but that has been suggested as a consideration by Gov. Mel Carnahan's staff.

These suggestions scream of arrogance and total disregard for the pocketbooks of the state's taxpayers. Every voter in the state should be offended.