Roads need more than Prop B offered

By Rod Jetton

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- This week opponents in Missouri soundly defeated Proposition B with 73 percent of the vote. Proposition B was a $511 million tax plan that was put on the ballot by the state legislature. It included a half-cent sales tax and a 4-cent gas tax.

I opposed this proposal because it didn't stop the diversion of highway funds to non-highway uses, improve accountability or commit to keeping the promises of the past.

Proponents of the tax increases spent more than $3 million trying to convince voters to adopt the measure. Opponents only spent around $5,000 trying to defeat Proposition B.

The problem we have in Missouri is a lack of trust. I have tried to tell the transportation leaders that the voters will approve nothing until we gain back their trust. That will take some major reforms in how the Missouri Department of Transportation does business and a guarantee that the money will actually go for roads.

MoDOT's director, Henry Hungerbeeler, has stated that MoDOT needs almost $1 billion in new dollars each year in order to do all the things Missouri voters have been promised. I know many voters won't like to hear this, but Hungerbeeler is right. I have studied this issue for the last three years. To build all the roads we need and want, it is going to take around $800 million to $1 billion a year. Something has to be done, and it is going to take more money. But I will not support any new taxes until I get the needed reforms as well as a commitment to actually build the roads we have been promised.

Many of the supporters of Proposition B have asked me what reforms or conditions I need in order to support a tax. Basically, it comes down to five things.

1. We need to reform how the commission is appointed.

My suggestion: Every two years, allow each party in the Senate to nominate six names to the governor. He then would pick two names from those lists. One would be a Democrat and one a Republican.

Both parties have been guilty of stacking the commission with their people who have only watched out for their special interests. Republican governors have tended to pick rural commissioners and only token Democrats. Democratic governors have tended to pick urban commissioners and only token Republicans. This kind of bipartisanship would ensure that everyone is treated fairly no matter which party the governor is from.

2. Make highway commissioners like judges.

Exclude them from the political process. Over the past 10 years, commissioners have held and attended fund raisers for both parties. Both Gov. Mel Carnahan and Gov. John Ashcroft had top party activists as highway commissioners. This is obviously something that has not helped us build highways in an objective manner.

3. Stop the diversion.

We need to make sure that every dollar we spend on transportation is going to the highways. Too often in the past, the Department of Revenue and the state auditor's office have skimmed money from MoDOT's budget.

4. More accountability.

MoDOT and the commission need to be more accountable to the people. We should have them come to the legislature each year and show the projected project list for the coming year. We would not be able to make any changes, but only be able to reject the plan. This would keep us from picking out roads but allow elected officials to have more input.

5. Pass a tax for only five years.

This is the best way to hold MoDOT and the commission accountable. If we pass a tax it should have to be sent back to the people for another vote in five years. If voters felt like MoDOT was keeping its promises and building the needed roads, they would reauthorize the tax again. If not, they could defeat it.

I can think of no reason to be against this, and it really is the best way to make sure the citizens of Missouri have a say in how their tax dollars are spent.

Most voters agree that something must be done to fix Missouri roads. But with the defeat of Proposition B, it will be another year before the legislature can meet and look at this issue again. We need to overhaul the department and eliminate the waste.

If you have a bucket that's full of holes and you are losing water, you don't pour in more water. You have to fix the holes. We need to reform MoDOT and set our priorities. Then we can pour in more money into our roads.

I am dedicated to working with the governor, highway commission, MoDOT, Farm Bureau and my fellow legislators to pass the necessary reforms that will gain the trust and confidence of Missouri voters.

It is time we move forward to build the roads we so desperately need. We can save lives and promote economic activity if we will all work together. I believe Missourians will support a transportation package that addresses their concerns. Proposition B didn't do that, and it failed.

Rod Jetton represents the 156th District in the Missouri House of Representatives.