– The Missouri Club for Growth joined a growing television ad campaign seeking to build public momentum behind a legislative override of Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of legislation that would have cut Missouri income taxes.

One of the commercials specifically targets Kansas City, ground zero in the so-called “border war” between Missouri and Kansas City over the region’s jobs and businesses. The other focuses on a statewide audience and is complimented by a 60-second radio commercial targeting conservative listeners.

“The passage of HB 253 marks the first time in nearly 100 years that the personal income tax rate has been lowered in Missouri,” said Bev Randles, chair of the Missouri Club for Growth PAC. “It is imperative that our legislator’s stand up for taxpayers and override Governor Nixon’s veto of this important legislation.”

Club for Growth’s move, emboldened by a $750,000 check Tuesday from St. Louis billionaire Rex Sinquefield, comes after the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Missouri launched a similar campaign, with their own cash infusion from Sinquefield — $200,000 and $100,000, respectively. In addition, Sinquefield placed $1.3 million in Grow Missouri, a group formed to fight for a veto override.

For his part, Nixon has begun a public campaign defending his veto. On Monday, his office staged events highlighting the fact that the legislation includes a $200 million tax increase on prescription drugs, which even the bill’s supporters said was accidental and pledged to repeal when the legislature reconvenes next year. Aside from that, pointing to the simple threat of lost revenue, Nixon announced a major budgetary withhold that hit higher education hard. On the trail, Nixon has said repeatedly that an override of the veto is a vote against education funding.

But in the ad wars, Democrats are silent, so far. Nixon, speaking to reporters yesterday, said, “I’m not going to get into a check writing contest with a billionaire,” the Kansas City Star reported. Nixon’s campaign has less than $400,000 on hand, according to his July report to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Despite the strong outpouring of support from conservative groups on air, it is unclear whether lawmakers have the votes to override Nixon’s veto. They reconvene in mid-September to consider it, as well as 29 other bills vetoed by Nixon this summer.