While the budget and transportation issues grabbed most of the headlines during the recently-completed session of the Missouri Legislature, Third District State. Rep. Jim Whorton, D-Trenton, was able to push a few items through during his rookie year.
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While the budget and transportation issues grabbed most of the headlines during the recently-completed session of the Missouri Legislature, Third District State. Rep. Jim Whorton, D-Trenton, was able to push a few items through during his rookie year.
A champion in the use of alternative fuels, Whorton had two bills in play during the year, which ended up as part of other bills sent to Gov. Bob Holden for his signature.
?We were able to get those bills going early, but because of time, I had to look at putting the language on other bills to move them further along,? Whorton said. ?We just didn?t physically have enough time to get them through on their own.?
The legislation, attached to another agriculture bill, establishing an incentive fund for development of soydiesel products in Missouri. Because of budget constraints, there is no money in the fund, but for now, that?s alright with Whorton.
?We at least have the mechanism in place when the money does become available,? Whorton said.
The second piece of legislation is part of the transportation package to be placed on the ballot in August, allowing for creation of more alternative fuel manufacturing plants in the state.
?For this to work, we have to create a market for alternative fuels,? Whorton said.
The legislation requires the Missouri Department of Transportation to use at least 50 percent of soydiesel by July 2004 and up to 75 percent by July 2005. According to Whorton, MoDOT is already using the fuel in areas where it is available.
A third energy-related bill involves providing funds to governmental entities who do innovative energy practices on their buildings.
?It would allow those groups to contract with private firms to design an energy saving plan that has to show it can save as much as 12 percent in energy costs per year for us to help fund it,? Whorton said. ?In some of the things we?ve looked at, if groups can develop such a plan, it can realize a payback in eight years.?
As for the budget situation in Missouri, Whorton remains optimistic that things can be done to help the state balance out its revenue vs. spending, but does have a concern in regard to part of the new budget sent to the governor for FY2003.
?I am disappointed with so many parts of the budget, but it got down to what we could get the most of us to agree on in order to get this to the governor,? Whorton said. ?Neither party wanted to be a part of a special session.?
But a special session would have suited Whorton just fine if it meant getting legislation more fine-tuned and the budget in better shape.
?There were about 20 of us who wanted to get this done for the right reasons, but we were out-numbered,? he said, adding that he voted against eight of 12 bills involving the budget. ?It is a mess.?
Whorton said he is most concerned about the $135 million in new money the legislature is banking on to help balance the budget.
?We?re looking at about six or eight issues in which we?re counting on people to do certain things,? he said. ?I can?t be sure that?s going to happen and I think it may be wishful thinking.?
Whorton believes there are other measures which can be taken to help the state meet its financial obligations.
?We are going to have to be able to be thinner,? he said, adding that government is going to have to take a look at itself and determine just how many of the programs can actually be funded.
As for transportation, Whorton believes supporters of the proposed tax issue on the August ballot will face one heck of a fight from the opposition.
?I think we?ve got to get the attention of the Missouri Department of Transportation and the commission, because this won?t pass until they get the confidence of the people back,? he said. ?There?s not a lot of trust right now. The legislature did its part in settling on a mix of funding and putting it before a vote of the people. It?s now up to them to sell it.?
The proposal has a variety of sources from which it plans to draw funds, including an increase in the fuel tax as well as a one-half cent sales tax, which Whorton said will help MoDOT deal with inflation factors that plagued the first plan that voters approved in 1992.
?That was the problem the first time around – they said they could do certain things in the 15-year plan but didn?t take into account the inflation factor,? he said. ?The sales tax will provide a little hedge for inflation.?
Whorton, who has filed for re-election to a full two-year term, is busy visiting with constituents in preparation for the pre-filing of bills in December.
?I?m trying to find out what people think we?ve been doing right or wrong, looking at legislation that maybe could be removed or needs to be added,? he said. ?Should I be fortunate enough for the people of my district to re-elect me to another term, I want to be ready.?