Supporters of highway funding amendment raise $760,000 plus

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The group pushing an amendment to the state constitution that would direct more state tax money to roads collected more than $760,000 in recent months, including sizable contributions from the construction industry, business and labor groups.

The Committee to Improve Missouri Roads and Bridges reported raising about $763,000 in July, August and September, and $1.6 million overall. Supporters had spent $386,000 in those three months, on things such as public relations firms, lawyers and advertising.

"We're getting good support. We'll be able to get a message out, feeling pretty good about things," said Dan Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a leader of the committee.

Opponents, called No on Amendment 3, had raised just $5,150, with $5,000 of that coming from a chapter of the Sierra Club.

Pat Martin, a leader in the opposition effort, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Currently, half of the roughly $250 million a year in vehicle sales tax revenues collected by the state goes toward roads. The other half goes into the state's general revenues, which provide funding for programs from schools to prisons. The ballot proposal would gradually direct that other half to a new fund to pay off bonds for road construction and maintenance.

Supporters say the amendment is needed to restore Missourians' faith in the agency that builds and repairs the state's roads.

But critics say passing the amendment would result in a loss of money for other government programs, from schools to social services.

The ballot measure also would decrease the amount of road-fund revenues, such as fuel taxes and driver's license fees, that go to other state agencies that perform transportation-related duties.

'Yes on Amendment 3' billboards are posted along some Missouri roads, and some gas pumps also have stickers attached endorsing the proposal.

Mehan also said Monday that the group would use "multiple forms of media" to spread the word with two weeks left until Election Day.

"We have the challenge of educating the voters that this opportunity is out there for us to improve our roads," he said.

Among the groups contributing the most to the organization backing the amendment: the Civic Progress Action Committee in St. Louis gave $85,000; the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City gave $50,000; the International Union of Operating Engineers in Kansas City gave $50,000, and a unit of the Eastern Missouri Laborers gave $25,000. The Missouri chamber also donated $25,000.

Several contractors, construction and related supplier companies also contributed, as did other business and civic organizations.

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On the Net:

Pro-Amendment: http://www.endthediversion.org

Anti-Amendment: http://home.earthlink.net/ 7/8martinps/Amendment3.html