DRISKILL PREDICTS LOSS OF 60,000 STATE JOBS

JACKSON -- If voters pass Amendment 7, the state's economic development director predicts the state will lose more than 60,000 jobs.

Director Joe Driskill, speaking at the annual industrial appreciation dinner of the Jackson Industrial Development Council, said up to one-third of his agency's budget could be slashed and immediate reductions would occur.

Driskill said his staff analyzed what Amendment 7 would do and determined there would have a huge impact on Missouri's economy.

It would cause a direct loss of 35,000 jobs and a loss of 29,000 indirect jobs, he said.

"We think the economy will be immeasurably hurt," Driskill said.

As for just the Department of Economic Development, the director said services to 208 existing companies would be cut, reducing the opportunity to gain 3,100 jobs, a potential payroll of $77 million and a capital investment of $206 million.

Driskill said the department's staff for development functions would be cut, resulting in dropping of 500 industrial prospects, 225 overseas trade leads, $225,000 in national advertising.

There would be 25,000 mailings to small businesses advising them of cut services, and rural economic development programs would be cut, including $6.6 million of the Main Street program.

Services would also be reduced at the state's tourism information centers.

Driskill said he wasn't trying to persuade people's vote but rather to explain the consequences to the department's services if Hancock passes.