A state representative from suburban St. Louis believes veterans groups around the state are "under attack" from county assessors who are forcing veterans halls to pay property taxes.

"Our veterans have paid enough already. They shouldn't have to pay property tax on their halls," said Col. Jack Jackson at VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

Jackson, R-Wildwood and a candidate for state auditor, is on an 11-city, three-day tour across the state to drum up support for a constitutional amendment that will be put to voters on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The amendment would add property used solely by veterans organizations to a list of tax-exempt structures that already includes schools, places of worship and buildings used by charitable organizations.

"Those of us who were in combat know that it takes every ounce of your being and concentration to get through it or perhaps you're not going to come out alive," Jackson said. "If an individual is worried about what may happen at home, he or she may not come home."

Jackson estimated veterans halls in Missouri were asked to pay $60,000 in property taxes last year. He worried further taxation could not only force halls to close, but also jeopardize American Legion-sponsored baseball and VFW-sponsored scholarship programs.

The Missouri House of Representatives approved the constitutional amendment 150-0.

Plane hit deer at 130 mph

Jackson's state tour was unexpectedly stalled Tuesday night when the twin-engine Beechcraft Duke plane he was piloting hit a deer in Camdenton, Mo.

The plane was moving at about 130 mph, almost takeoff speed, when it struck the deer, which had wandered onto the runway.

"We veered to the left off the runway and probably traveled 2,300 feet in the grass before we skidded to a stop," said Paul Brown, Jackson's director of communications. "The landing gear was completely bent sideways; the fuselage was bent. I'd say the plane is totaled."

On board were Jackson, his wife, Arleen; Brown; and campaign political director Michelle Cote. No one was injured.

Jackson worked as chief test pilot at Boeing for 28 years. He also flew 668 combat missions in Vietnam.

Jackson, who was elected to the House in 2002, hopes to use his popularity among veterans to win the election for state auditor.

"Veterans are probably the strongest single organization in the state," he said. "If I had the vote of every veteran and one of their family members, I wouldn't need anyone else. I would win."

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245