Missouri Misses Out on Vital Infrastructure Funds, Laborers Council Points to Senators
The Missouri-Kansas Laborers District Council has publicly voiced its disappointment with Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt. The core of the issue lies in their decision to abstain from participating in the earmark process, a choice that has led to a substantial shortfall in infrastructure funding for Missouri for the fiscal year 2024. In stark comparison, neighboring Kansas, despite having a smaller population, managed to secure $189.5 million, doubling Missouri’s allotment of just $95.1 million.
This significant discrepancy in funding has raised alarms over the deteriorating state of Missouri’s infrastructure. The Council has expressed concerns that without adequate investment, the state risks falling further behind, thereby jeopardizing both citizen well-being and employment prospects. Infrastructure, often seen as the backbone of economic growth and public safety, requires continuous investment, and the shortfall could stall crucial improvements needed across the state.
In response to this funding gap, the Missouri-Kansas Laborers District Council is urging Senators Hawley and Schmitt to reconsider their stance on earmarks. By engaging more fully in the process, they argue, the senators could better advocate for Missouri’s needs, securing essential project funding that would directly benefit the state’s residents and economy. The call to action underscores the vital role that infrastructure plays in maintaining and enhancing the quality of life for Missouri’s citizens and the inherent job opportunities that come with such large-scale projects.