Let's get rid of Washington's grip on funding

To the editor:

Regarding your editorial "Road to reality": I agree that the director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Henry Hungerbeeler, has done about as good a job as one could do given the limited resources available. I also agree that Missouri is in need of more money and ideas to meet highway and bridge-building needs. However, regarding the need for the Missouri Legislature to pass a whole bunch of new laws in order to get more of our money from the federal government is where we disagree.

I am sick and tired of the federal government holding us hostage. Why should Missourians succumb to the values Washington dictates? Whose money is it, anyway? Do we have to do the Washington way or else? Should Missouri have to create new crimes and more laws in order for us to get more of our money back, even though Missouri, through its representative government, has said no to these new laws many times? What about state rights. Where is the devolution of power?

I think it's time to stand up to Washington and demand our money to fix our roads. The only reason the blood-alcohol limit was lowered to 0.08 percent in Missouri was because Washington was holding more of our money hostage.

Thank goodness for Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who have obtained more of our highway dollars than ever. I hope they can be successful at getting Washington's hands off our throats.

PATRICK NAEGER

Perryville, Mo.