The Missouri Senate has passed a bill that would gradually increase the state’s gas tax by 12-and-a-half cents over five years.

The state’s leading ag groups have said they support efforts to increase the gas tax to pay for much needed road and bridge repairs.

Senate President Dave Schatz, a Republican from Sullivan, says the bill offers a rebate for the amount of the increase.

“A portion of the revenue, 30 to 40% potentially, comes from people traveling through our state that don’t live here and we’re allowing the trucking industry and people traveling across our roads to come across at a cheap rate.

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