Perspective: "What's next for transportation? Question eludes easy answer

The last 10 days in Missouri have been a bit of a roller-coaster in terms of emotions and activities. On Tuesday the fifth, Missourians turned out to vote for primary candidates and to decide on a number of important statewide issues. The democratic process worked, resulting in candidates and policies going forward. Even though some of us were left disappointed with a particular result, the process worked smoothly, Missourians were given the opportunity to decide, and they did so definitively.

In contrast to the organized process that worked correctly in the primary elections are the events in Ferguson that have Missouri in the news daily. Both events are significant and will have long-term impacts on the state going forward. I will address the primary elections in this report rather than the events in Ferguson. Instead I ask you to join me in continuing to pray for the individuals and families in that community as well as for all of those making decisions relating to that situation.

Since the primary elections, I have been asked "so, what is next for transportation" at least 500 times. My candid answer is that I do not know. Many then ask about a Plan B, and are very surprised when I tell them that Amendment 7 was actually Plan C. Plan A, a gas tax increase, was voted down in 2002. Plan B, to allow tolling, could not pass through the Legislature in 2012. In fact, it couldn't even get out of committee. Amendment 7 was the third option, and with its failure, Missouri is quite literally back at square one in the search for a solution.

Transportation in Missouri is incredibly complex and diverse. What is important to individuals in one county or one part of the state may be viewed as frivolous and unnecessary in another. Amendment 7 attempted to address these differences and to facilitate them. Clearly it failed to do so. Any solution to Missouri's transportation funding problem will need to do two things: 1) it must pass at the ballot box and 2) it must meet the diverse needs of transportation across the state. This is not an easy solution to find, nor will it be done quickly. I have been a part of this conversation since 2005 and I will continue to be involved. What is encouraging is that in the multitude of conversations I have had since the election, nearly everyone recognizes how critical the issue is for the safety of Missourians and the state's economic future.

I was very pleased to see Missourians vote in favor of Amendment 1. Agriculture is the state's number one industry and it is critical to protect the rights of Missourians to farm. This week I joined Sen. Roy Blunt in one of his stops to discuss the detrimental policies of an over-zealous EPA, an EPA that has farming in its cross-hairs continually. In addition to government agencies, farming is under attack by outside interest groups with radical agendas that seek to destroy practices and traditions that have been a way of life for generations. I am grateful for Missouri Farm Bureau's leadership on this issue.

Amendment 5, which reinforces the second amendment rights of Missourians, passed overwhelmingly. Despite the anti-gun philosophies of the administration and prominent east-coast politicians, Missourians understand that responsible gun ownership, for recreation and protection, is a foundational individual right that is worthy of protection.

Lastly, and similar to Amendment 5 in terms of protecting individual rights, was the passage of Amendment 9 which expressly protects Missourians from unreasonable search and seizure of their electronic data and communications. We live in an electronic age, and this is a much-needed and common sense amendment to ensure that freedom and privacy are not sacrificed in the face of advancing technology.

My purpose and my intent is to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. If you are in the Capitol during the coming weeks and months, please stop by your office in Room 220.

State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, represents the 6th District.