Missouri GOP governor candidates back cost-savings for roads - Daily Journal

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State Auditor Tom Schweich and Catherine Hanaway, a former Missouri House speaker and U.S. attorney, spoke at an annual Capitol gathering of Missouri editors and reporters hosted by The Associated Press and the Missouri Press Association. . . .

The candidates . . . were asked about whether they support additional revenues for Missouri's transportation department. . . .

Schweich said he doubts the dire assertions and accused the agency of "arrogance" for rejecting his audit recommendations that it stop using a state airplane to fly commissioners to meetings. He has suggested that hundreds of thousands of dollars could be saved by requiring the commissioners to drive.

"I will not be convinced that they need more money until they show me more of a commitment to keeping their own costs down," Schweich said.

Hanaway said Missouri's roads are in need of more money. But rather than backing tax increases or tolls, she said Missouri could redirect as much as $500 million to roads by finding about 2 percent savings in Missouri's annual operating budget. That would be a new approach for the state, which has traditionally funded highways through user charges such fuel taxes and vehicle licensing fees.

"Because we've seen proposal after proposal be rejected by the voters, we need to find some savings within the budget," Hanaway said.

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Missouri GOP governor candidates back cost-savings for roads - Daily Journal

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