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 2003 News Columns |
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Help for Highways Since I announced that I will be in charge of writing a new federal highway bill in Congress this year, many Missourians have asked me to fix certain roads in our state. Having served Missouri twice as Governor and now beginning my 17th year in the U.S. Senate, I have driven nearly every one of Missouri's roads and highways (or sometimes it just feels that way). On these trips, I see too many dangerously narrow roads, bridges in disrepair and roads that need resurfacing. And like many Missourians, I have known for years that our need to fix them has lagged behind our ability to do so. And we know the terrible cost: too many of our roads and highways are dangerous. And too many businesses won't move to or expand in our state because of our inefficient road system. Fixing this is more than a state responsibility. The federal government has a large role. And a very big part of that federal role will come in the form of the federal highway bill that I will help write. The bill is actually a blueprint, of sorts, that governs how and where tens of billions of federal dollars are spent to improve the nation's highways. Since I will be chairman of the subcommittee in charge of rewriting the bill, Missouri has a well-positioned seat at the table. This is especially important, because Congress only updates this law once every six years. Missouri has received $3.7 billion in federal highway funds since the bill was last reauthorized. To make sure that Missouri has the best chance do well during this process, we all have to pull together. Democrats, Republicans, urban and rural have to cast aside our differences and unite around the fight for better roads. That has been my message with state and local leaders during our recent highway meetings in Joplin, St. Joe, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. In addition, I have also reminded people that while my aim is to boost Missouri's share of federal transportation funds, it is the state's jobs to identify and budget for specific projects. When we last rewrote the federal highway bills in 1992 and 1998, I was able to boost the amount of federal money returned to Missouri for highways and bridge construction, repair and maintenance. Prior to 1997, the federal government returned to Missouri only 75 cents for every dollar in federal transportation taxes Missourians sent to Washington. We deserve a better return on those dollars. I went to work to fix that. In the end, the 1998 bill boosted the money returned to Missouri to over 90 cents to the dollar a --big improvement. Unfortunately, though, Missouri is still a "doner" state � meaning that we send more money to Washington in highway taxes than we get back. I am going to try and boost Missouri's share even higher when we rewrite the bill again this year. While we have a good chance to improve Missouri's position in the highway bill, all the transportation problems of our state cannot be solved with one piece of federal legislation. We can make a positive difference and that is what I will try and do this year. But Missouri's roads and highways can only be rebuilt and repaired over many years if the state and federal government work together. Our state is the geographic center of the nation. Missouri is home to the country's sixth largest highway network. And for decades, we have failed to devote enough money to fixing and modernizing this road system. Now we have the opportunity to reverse this trend. And I will be working to make sure that Uncle Sam lends a helping hand. It won't be easy. In fact, it's going to be one heck of a fight. And I am going to give it my all. |
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