Missouri governor calls for an increase in state’s gas tax

Missouri welcome signMissouri Governor Jay Nixon is hoping legislators in his state support a gas tax hike to help pay for needed highway improvements.

Nixon was speaking on the KCUR show “Up To Date” when he told host Steve Kraske that he hoped a bill pre-filed Dec. 1 by Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) passed the state legislature. The bill would raise the gas tax by 1.5 cents per gallon and 3.5 cents per gallon on diesel fuel.

“It doesn’t solve the whole problem, but it’s clearly a step in the right direction,” Nixon said. “So I hope Sen. Libla’s bill gets out of the House, gets to the Senate and then gets to my desk.”

The Kansas City Star reported that Libla’s bill is being viewed as a short-term fix for transportation funding problems in the state.

As it stands, the state doesn’t spend enough on roads and bridges to get its full allotment of matching federal funding. However, the slight increase in the gas tax could be enough to ensure the Missouri is getting every cent it can to improve the state’s infrastructure.

A public vote following the bill’s passage would not be required.