Kehoe: ‘Gas tax up to Missourians’

(Missourinet) A long-term solution for funding our roads and bridges is needed, not only for your family’s safety, but for attracting more business to Missouri, according to Lt Gov Mike Kehoe, but ultimately, a gas tax increase is up to you.

“When you have the (nation’s) seventh-largest infrastructure system and you’re 49th in funding, it doesn’t take long to figure out you need a long-term solution. We’re all willing to listen to what Missourians think is the most reasonable approach to that, and then we’ll figure it out.”

The legislature does not have the authority to increase the gas tax without a vote of the people.

“As you know, our Hancock Amendment prohibits the Legislature from coming up with that solution, that’s probably a good thing most days, so we’ll see what Missourians think is the appropriate response.”

Missouri’s 17-cent gasoline tax has not increased in 23 years. Last November, voters rejected a proposed 10-cent gas tax increase.

Kehoe campaigned for Proposition D, that proposed 10-cent gas tax increase, last fall.

“Missourians couldn’t run their household budgets if they didn’t have any extra income for 22 years straight.”

MoDOT said if voters had approved Prop D, it would have generated about $288 million annually in new road and bridge funding.