Governor Jay Nixon did not endorse a specific proposal to address Missouri's transportation funding crisis during his State of the State address

See Related Stories

1/14/2015: Newspaper Story - .@MoDOT faces maintenance and construction cutbacks due to shrinking revenue

1/14/2015: Radio Story - New MoDOT plan reduces scope of roadway improvements to only cover primary state highways, interstates

Intro:	Despite Missouri facing a transportation funding crisis, Governor Jay Nixon did not embrace a specific proposal in his State of the State speech Wednesday night
RunTime:	0:38
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Last August, voters rejected a sales tax increase that would've provided over 1 billion dollars in funding for Missouri roads.

With that in mind, Governor Nixon didn't endorse a specific proposal, but floated another tax increase idea Wednesday night.

Actuality:	NIXON1.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "Missouri's gas tax hasn't gone up a penny in nearly 20 years. It's the fifth-lowest in the nation. With gas prices as low as they are now, this is worth a very close look."

House Transportation Chairman Glen Kolkmeyer agreed with Nixon, saying a gas tax increase is worth a look given how low gas prices are.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.

Intro:	Governor Jay Nixon did not support a specific idea to address the state's transportation funding crisis, but one Republican senator said all options need to be on the table.
RunTime:	0:32
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Senator Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff took over the Transportation Committee post this year and he says transportation is too important of an issue to ignore.

Actuality:	LIBLA.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "We need to work hard on it and that's what I'll be doing as transportation chairman. We'll be looking at all avenues and working hard and reaching out to people that has taken an interest in roads and bridges."

One proposal that would've helped the funding problem was Amendment 7 on last August's ballot, but 59 percent of voters rejected it.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.

Intro:	Governor Jay Nixon raised the idea of making Interstate 70 a toll road, but stopped short of fully endorsing it.
RunTime:	0:41
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Governor Jay Nixon said making Interstate 70 a toll road would help Missouri slowly climb out of its transportation funding crisis.

Actuality:	NIXON.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "The Highway Commission's recent report showed that this approach could make I-70 better and safer and free up tens of millions of dollars for other roads around the state."

But House Transportation chairman Glen Kolkmeyer disagreed.

Actuality:	KOLK2.WAV
Run Time:	00:03
Description: "I'm not a big supporter of toll roads. Toll roads are bad for business."

Sen. Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City is keeping his options open.

Actuality:	KEHOE1.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "I think all of the solutions are going to be a tough conversation, but again, sometimes finding a solution is not easy."

No specific transportation proposals have come forward from the legislature yet.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.