BUSINESSMAN SPENT $34,630 TO OPPOSE AMENDMENT 4

Cape Girardeau businessman Jim Drury spent $34,630 just before the Aug. 2 primary to purchase statewide radio and newspaper advertisements opposing Amendment 4, a $250 million bond issue narrowly approved by voters.

Bonds will be used to pay for new correctional institutions and buildings on college campuses.

Drury said Thursday he personally paid for the ads, and he mailed a financial disclosure report to the Missouri Ethics Commission on Sept. 2. The advertisements carried the disclaimer that they were paid for by Missourians Against Amendment 4.

A complaint filed after the election with the ethics commission said reports required by state campaign finance disclosure laws hadn't been filed.

Drury said he opposed Amendment 4 because he is concerned that government doesn't follow through on its promises when proposing tax increases. He also complained that there are too many taxes, many of them perpetual, that only provide a slush fund for government spending.

Drury said too much tax money already is being spent on four-year colleges and not enough on community colleges and vocational schools for two-thirds of the young people who don't have the desire or ability to attend college.