badly needed infrastructure discussed as Session winds down

Governor Mike Parson supports the Senate’s proposed changes to the budget by including 2.8-billion-dollars to widen Interstate-70 to at least three lanes in both directions from Blue Springs near Kansas City to Wentzville near St. Louis.

Governor Parson said:   “We wanted to at least build the foundation and then let the legislators go from there. If they wanted to add to that, we were fine for whatever that was going to be. We’re not disappointed whatsoever. We’re glad it’s getting done because that’s the long-term investments you can do when we’re in the shape we are in this state of our funding and because things are going so well in this state and if we can do the whole thing, that’s great, that’s longevity, that’s for the future of Missouri and that’s a big plus for our state.” 

Parson’s initial proposal during his State of the State address was $859 million to widen the I-70 corridor from Blue Springs near Kansas City to the St. Louis suburb of Wentzville. 

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Lincoln Hough is proposing to use 1.4-billion-dollars in state funding and borrow 1.4-billion to complete the I-70 project. 

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden says that the budget will pass before this coming Friday’s deadline.