Although several issues and races are crowding Tuesday’s primary ballot, the transportation tax amendment has been particularly contentious. The amendment increases the state sales tax, now 4.225 percent, by three-quarters of a cent to fund transportation projects.
Supporters of #Amendment7 say it's the best way to raise funds to pay for needed transportation improvements.
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) July 31, 2014
Opponents of #Amendment7 say there are better ways, and a sales tax hurts low-income people the most.
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) July 31, 2014
On Thursday, Jewell Patek of Missourians for Better Transportation and Jobs, which supports the amendment, and Tom Shrout of Missourians for Better Transportation Solutions, which opposes it, debated the proposal on “St. Louis on the Air.”
The debate carried over to Twitter, where supporters and detractors shared their views.
Public transportation
Want better transit from Chesterfield to Downtown St. Louis? Vote Yes for #Amendment7 @STLonAir
— CMT St. Louis (@CMT_STL) July 31, 2014
No, I'd rather have better transit closer in as well as more jobs and residents. We'd all be better off @CMT_STL @STLonAir
— St Louis Unite (@stlunite) July 31, 2014
@cmt_stl @stlonair Only 4 stops in 18 mile span. That's not BRT. That's just poor transit.
— Gateway Streets (@GatewayStreets) July 31, 2014
A system that builds this is broken. Reform then more money @VoteNoOnSeven @STLonAir pic.twitter.com/69sl8O4slP
— St Louis Unite (@stlunite) July 31, 2014
@CMT_STL @STLonAir But not MetroLink, which is the backbone of our public transit system and the reason that CMT was created @VoteNoOnSeven
— Les Sterman (@lsterman) July 31, 2014
@STLonAir Bingo! The mention of a study proposing a north to south county #MetroLink line is music to my ears. If it came to fruition...
— Sylvia Petty (@sylviadjp) July 31, 2014
@CMT_STL @STLonAir ...but does not assure @Amtrak @MoRiverRunner trains will continue to operate. Serious flaw in #Amendment7
— TransitActionNetwork (@TransActionKC) July 31, 2014
@STLonAir Amendment 7 won't fund the public transportation needs....they won't get enough from this sales tax & this is what is needed.
— Kim Barrington (@kimbrotoo) July 31, 2014
Economic development
.@STLonAir We support Amendment 7 as a key economic development tool for our region-infrastructure is critical to attracting business to STL
— St. Louis Regional Chamber (@STLRegChamber) July 31, 2014
That's short-sighted development right there MT @STLRegChamber: .@STLonAir We support Amendment 7 as a key economic development tool for ...
— Joe Sheehan (@joesheehan) July 31, 2014
.@stlonair Business and labor support Amendment 7. It will create thousands of new, good paying jobs. @fixmoroads
— St. Louis Regional Chamber (@STLRegChamber) July 31, 2014
Is our transportation system too big for our population and economy? @STLonAir
— St Louis Unite (@stlunite) July 31, 2014
Taxes
Necessity goods like groceries and medicine would be
— CMT St. Louis (@CMT_STL) July 31, 2014
exempt from this tax - #YESon7 #Amendment7 @STLonAir
People need shoes and cloths too. @CMT_STL @STLonAir
— St Louis Unite (@stlunite) July 31, 2014
@CMT_STL @STLonAir Only those using food stamps are exempt. It that you?
— Mike Murray (@mikemurray39) July 31, 2014
.@STLonAir A gas tax can only be used for roads and bridges in MO. A7 will support public transit, freight, and more. @fixmoroads
— St. Louis Regional Chamber (@STLRegChamber) July 31, 2014
@STLRegChamber @STLonAir @fixmoroads Fuel tax Because gasoline is not the only fuel, diesel is fuel of industry. Can tax locally for transit
— AmericaHQ2Exotic (@TomLeb) July 31, 2014
@stlonair MO has the 3rd lowest gas tax in the nation. Does that translate to MO having 3rd lowest cost of goods?
— It’s Just in time (@jdguy00) July 31, 2014
@STLonAir GOP legislators want to emulate TX in their tax/spend strategies - why not do as they do - higher gas taxes & toll roads.
— Lisa (@Lisa_S_47) July 31, 2014
@CMT_STL @STLonAir gas tax won't give you transit options. This is a REAL solution.
— Anthony Lancia (@AnthonyLancia) July 31, 2014
What it means for St. Louis
St. Louis will be getting money from the state for transit through Amendment 7. #YESon7 #Amendment7 @STLonAir
— CMT St. Louis (@CMT_STL) July 31, 2014
@CMT_STL @STLonAir Only on a technicality. State is the middleman, but this is a new sales tax just for this. Misleading.
— Justin Striebel (@jstriebel22) July 31, 2014
@nextSTL @CMT_STL @STLonAir widening I64 won't help. Already tried it. Sending @metrolinkstl out to Valley would
— Derrick Neuner (@drock89) July 31, 2014
Let's build places where poor people need to buy less gas. Amendment 7 encourages the opposite @STLonAir
— St Louis Unite (@stlunite) July 31, 2014
@STLonAir If MO passes Amendment 7, STL will be triple taxed for @GreatRiversSTL projects on A7 list.
— Gateway Streets (@GatewayStreets) July 31, 2014
@STLonAir @stlpublicradio No, STL region stands to lose the most by reinforcing dev patterns that have led to v little population/biz growth
— NEXTSTL.com (@NEXTSTL) July 31, 2014
Previous transportation proposals
This is the first time we can vote on transit funding from the state #YESon7 #Amendment7 # STLonAir @STLonAir
— CMT St. Louis (@CMT_STL) July 31, 2014
@STLonAir In 2004, MO voters gave MoDOT $175M/year in new funding. MoDOT spent and turned it into $300M/year in debt payments.
— Gateway Streets (@GatewayStreets) July 31, 2014
.@STLonAir Amendment 7 is the results of 6 years work. If it fails, we will see our transportation deteriorate with no solution for years.
— St. Louis Regional Chamber (@STLRegChamber) July 31, 2014
MO debating Toll Roads for 10 years, but never makes it to the ballots. #YESon7 #Amendment7 @STLonAir
— CMT St. Louis (@CMT_STL) July 31, 2014
@STLonAir - Pass A7 and spending frenzy begins. @VoteNoOnSeven and discussion continues for much smarter/wiser transpo solutions and funding
— TransitActionNetwork (@TransActionKC) July 31, 2014
@CMT_STL @STLonAir And it's now 2014! Gay marriage didn't have much support in 2002 either. We can do better. @VoteNoOnSeven
— Les Sterman (@lsterman) July 31, 2014
What’s next
A reminder that the #MO primary is Tuesday; vote. Need help finding your polling place? http://t.co/FVCJhqu21X
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) July 31, 2014
On Wednesday, St. Louis on the Air will analyze the primary results. Join us at noon and 10 p.m.
St. Louis on the Air discusses issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and hosted by veteran journalist Don Marsh.
