Your Opinion: Transportation tax opposed

Dear Editor:

I want politicians to know that this voter has a memory. I recall in 2011 hearing a report on the radio that the MoDOT budget for 2012 was being cut by nearly a half a billion dollars. I thought to myself, "Here they (the politicians) go again, inflicting pain on the general public to get more money from us."

Well as predicted they are begging for more money. Typical mantra, increase taxes for either the children or the roads. These are two topics typically invoking high emotions from voters because these are closest to us.

The fact is, the MoDOT budget has been reduced every year since that point totaling almost $850 million annually, which is nearly a 30 percent reduction (from 2011 $2.957 million to 2014 $2.108 million.)

Where the heck has this $850 million dollars gone? Has it gone to redistribution of wealth to those who do not deserve it? Has it gone to pet pork projects? Has it gone to government waste? I want this money taken away from wherever it was diverted, back to the MoDOT budget.

Who uses the roads? Is it the people who don't work, is it the few versus the many? Answer: It is the people who go to work every day, truckers moving goods, people who provide services, take vacations and ultimately pay the bills of the federal, state and local budgets.

So, why would the politicians want to inflict pain and inconveniences to those who contribute the most? This voter has concluded it is to manipulate the voter for higher taxes.

This voter would like to challenge politicians to stop wasting our hard-earned money. Stop redistributing money it to those who drain the budget and are capable of contributing. Start making smart prioritized spending decisions to that which will have the biggest return for the buck.

Instead of inflicting more legislation and regulations upon us, politicians need to focus on tightening the budget belt (like you and I must) and lightening the regulatory oppression.

Every legislation and regulation that our federal, state and/or local governments inflict upon us, reduces someone's personal, economic and/or religious freedoms.

I am appealing to my fellow voters to vote no on the road tax increase.