Mo. senators push one-cent sales tax to fund road improvements

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Intro:	Several Missouri lawmakers want to put more money into fixing up the state's roads and highways and they're want to pay for it with a bigger sales tax.
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That's the sound of construction at a highway expansion in Osage County. If a group of state lawmakers get their way, you could be hearing that sound all over the state.

They're backing a bill that would add an extra penny to the state sales tax for the next decade.

Groups representing low-income families say poor people would be hit harder by a higher sales tax. But Sen. Ryan McKenna, a Democrat from Jefferson County, says the repairs are needed to cut down on deadly accidents.

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Description: "And no matter where you live in the state, you're going to be impacted by safer roads."

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Wes Duplantier. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Several Missouri lawmakers say they want to boost funding for the state's roads and highways and they're looking to the state's shoppers to pick up the tab.
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Wrap: A bill has been introduced in the state Capitol that would add an extra penny to the state sales tax for the next decade. That could raise an extra $900 million each year for roads.

The measure would have to go before voters and, one sponsor, Sen. Mike Kehoe, a Republican from Jefferson City, says it should.

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Description: "This conversation has gone on long enough where I think it's the people's right to decide if they want to continue with the infrastructure that we so badly need."

But groups representing low-income families say that poor people would be hit harder by a higher sales tax. That's because those people spend a bigger chunk of their income to buy what they need.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Wes Duplantier. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Missouri shoppers might soon be paying a higher sales tax to fund state construction projects and that could end up hitting the state's poorest citizens hardest
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Several Missouri state lawmakers say the sales tax should go up by a penny for 10 years to paid for more road work. They say the projects would increase traffic safety.

But advocates for poor people say those families could end up paying most of the cost.

Jeanette Mott Oxford is a former St. Louis Representative who is now the head of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare. She says poorer people spend a bigger chunk of their income to buy what they need.

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Description: "So when we add any burden to them, we can say, 'Oh you're just paying your fair share,' but the thing is, they're taking it out of nothing. There is no money left over."

Mott Oxford says the state should be collecting Internet sales tax to raise money instead.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Wes Duplantier. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.