A proposed constitutional amendment would give donors tax creditsworth 50 percent of the donation to charitable organizations.
The state auditor’s office estimates the amendment — if approved byvotors — would cost the state $5 billion dollars a year, but theman spearheading the initiative, Herman Kriegshauser, says that’sridiculous. He estimates it would be about $1 billion or less, but that money would stay within the state.
He says the petition specifies the donations must be made to Missouri organizations.
He says especially in this faltering economy, people need an incentive to donate to charities.
Kriegshauser says he works with various charity groups andlocal schools. He says both are hurting amid rising costs and fewer donations.
He says he’s got lots of signatures already; to make the 2010 ballot, he must collect signatures equal toat least 8 percent of the votes for governor in six congressionaldistricts.
Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]
