Farm Bureau to consider transportation plan petition

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Farm Bureau, a major player in past transportation funding efforts, isn't ready to commit to an initiative petition drive to put a transportation tax increase before the state's voters. However, the group is exploring that option.

"It is possible something could be put on the ballot next year, but a lot of things would have to fall into place for that to happen," said Estil Fretwell, a Farm Bureau lobbyist.

The committee that shapes Farm Bureau's official policies last week suggested the organization could support a tax increase for transportation, but only if certain conditions are met first.

Foremost of those, Fretwell said, is having trustworthy members on the State Highways and Transportation Commission in order to restore public confidence in the panel, the independent governing authority of the Department of Transportation. By the end of the year, Gov. Bob Holden will have appointed three new commissioners to the six-member panel -- appointments Farm Bureau will be closely watching.

Secondly, Fretwell said new funding must be dependent on MoDOT's recommitment to its 1992 15-year plan, which heavily favored spending on rural projects. The commission abandoned the plan as the financial blueprint for new highway construction in 1998 and shifted an increased share of spending to urban projects.

"We recognize, at the same time, that there are transportation needs other than those in the 15-year plan, but it needs to be a major part of any package that's put together," Fretwell said.

December decision

The decision on whether Farm Bureau will pursue a transportation funding measure will be made by the group's membership during its annual meeting in December.

If it chooses to support a tax increase, Fretwell said Farm Bureau may prefer to pursue it through traditional means in the General Assembly rather than the petition process. Farm Bureau helped to defeat a transportation tax package pushed by Holden this year in the Legislature.

Fretwell said there must be a strong agreement among interest groups with a stake in transportation as to the type and size of a proposed tax increase before Farm Bureau would commit itself.

"Whether it's done in the Legislature or by initiative petition, there has to be a broad consensus reached," Fretwell said.

Transport Missouri, a coalition of diverse organizations, first floated the idea of an initiative petition in May, shortly after Holden's transportation plan died in the Senate. Members include Associated Industries of Missouri, the state Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO and a number of other interest groups.

Rodney Gray, the president of Transport Missouri, said the coalition has had no formal discussions with Farm Bureau but would be delighted to join with them in pursuing an initiative petition.

"They do an excellent job of representing rural Missouri," Gray said. "Any successful plan needs to have both urban and rural support."

Fretwell said Farm Bureau would be interested in sharing ideas with coalition members.

"As we move forward with this, certainly those interests represented by Transport Missouri would be the kind of people we would be willing to work with," Fretwell said.

While Gray wouldn't predict the chances of a transportation proposal appearing on the November 2002 ballot -- with or without Farm Bureau's support -- he did say there is a growing awareness throughout the state that the funding issue needs to be addressed.

"Hopefully, that will bubble up to the point where we have something on the ballot next year," Gray said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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