No Appetite in Missouri House to Send Gas Tax Hike to Voters
The Missouri House on April 11 rejected a plan to raise the state’s gas tax by about six cents, pending approval from voters in 2018 — a proposal that emerged in the Senate last year as a way to raise money for road and bridge improvements.
Sen. Doug Libla, (R-Poplar Bluff), floated the idea as a way to generate as much as $165 million in revenue to improve the state’s roads and bridges, arguing that lawmakers can’t afford to repair the state’s crumbling infrastructure with its general checkbook.
The plan would be sent to voters via referendum in 2018, giving them the option to raise the state’s motor fuel tax to 22.9 cents per gallon, higher than the 21.09-cent national average, according to the American Petroleum Institute.
Missouri’s current gas tax of 17 cents per gallon is among the lowest in the nation.
House Speaker Todd Richardson, another Poplar Bluff Republican, warned last year that GOP lawmakers in his chamber wouldn't be amenable to the idea. The House never took up the bill after it passed the Senate in 2016.
On April 12, Rep. Greg Razer, (D-Kansas City), attached the proposal as an amendment to a measure that would create a graduated tax system for propane fueled vehicles.
He called on lawmakers to seriously consider the increase now, given that it would be even less likely to pass next session during an election year. Voting for a tax hike would be campaign mailer fodder for opponents, he acknowledged.
“This is the year to do it and go out and educate your constituents about what you did,” Razer said.
Opponents to the bill said it was up to the state to better manage the money in its coffers and not expect Missourians to cough up more out of their paychecks.
“Our budget continues to grow every single year. We’re the fourth most dependent state on federal funds,” said Rep. Paul Curtman, (R-Pacific). “Maybe we should start using all that money more appropriately rather than asking people for another cut of their earnings.”
Democrats contended that in urban and rural districts alike, roads and bridges in dire need of repair can’t wait for the state’s financial situation to improve.
“We know this has to be done,” Razer said. “Let’s not wait until a bridge collapses.”
Lawmakers this year also have rejected efforts to use toll roads to raise money for the state’s roads and highways.
The proposal was defeated on a 103-51 vote.
