— Gov. Jay Nixon on Monday announced his opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would impose a temporary sales tax to fund transportation projects in Missouri.

The proposal, which passed the legislature this year, would impose a temporary .75 percent sales tax over 10 years to raise about $6.1 billion for roads projects. Nixon announced last week it would be placed on the August ballot for voter consideration.

“The burden of this $6.1 billion sales tax increase would fall disproportionately on Missouri’s working families and seniors by increasing the cost of everyday necessities like diapers and over-the-counter medication, while giving the heaviest users of our roads a free pass,” Nixon said. Taking another jab at lawmakers over passing tax benefits for businesses (which he opposed, Nixon said, “If this effort is successful, Missouri will have the dubious distinction of being a state that, in a matter of months, cut taxes on lawyers and lobbyists, but hiked taxes on bar soap and baseball gloves.”

“I cannot in good conscience endorse a $6.1 billion tax hike on Missouri families and seniors when special interests and the wealthy are being showered with sweetheart deals. This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution to our transportation infrastructure needs and it does not have my support,” he added.

With Nixon’s announcement, top Missouri Democrats no appear split. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, for example, has announced her support of the measure as the state struggles to fund projects due to a diminished fuel tax.

In an event organized by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce (which supports the measure) earlier in the year, the Missouri Department of Transportation said it had ceased any new road projects, and that by 2017, it would not be able to maintain the current system.