Wrap: A House committee held a hearing for a bill that could potentially raise the gas tax in Missouri by 5.9 cents per gallon.

This increase could raise more than $125 million dollars for state highways.

Patrick McKenna, the director of MoDot, says that Missouri's system of roads, bridges, and highways is the seventh largest in the nation with more than 34,000 miles of roads.

 

Actuality:	TRANS4.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "The tax payers of Missouri over the last 100's of years have put in over 50 billion dollars of investment to build the system we count on everyday," McKenna said.

 

The bills sponsor Senator Doug Libla, says that Missouri needs safer roads for families.

Actuality:	TRANS1.WAV
Run Time:	00:16
Description: "I worry about everyone that needs to safely and easily drive to work, take the kids to school, get to there doctors or hospitals, EMT's fireman, law enforcement. They all reach those in need of services. Many times, life saving," Libla said.

The next hearing for the bill has not yet been scheduled. But the committee chair, Representative Glen Kolkmeyer says the committee could vote on the bill as early as next week.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Riley Newton.