It's about time!

[proud2BlibKansan]

Patronage system raises legal concerns

You know a Missouri patronage system is out of control when a U.S. attorney has to be called in from Arkansas to investigate possible misdeeds.

Federal investigators reportedly are looking into the way Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration awarded contracts to run the offices that collect fees from citizens who register their vehicles, obtain and renew driver’s licenses, and conduct other state-required business.

Unlike other states, Missouri awards the potentially lucrative contracts to people who contribute generously to the governor’s political party. Blunt, a Republican, expanded the patronage system by privatizing the last 11 state-run offices.

Sources told The Star the probe is being handled out of the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Arkansas, which is based in Little Rock.

more . . .

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/opinion/14363765.htm

[evlbstrd]

1. Book 'em, Danno!

"A federal investigation involving Missouri government normally would be supervised by one of the two U.S. attorneys in this state.

However, the wife of Todd Graves, who just retired as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, has the contract for the Gladstone fee office. Her brother has the contract for the Sugar Creek office.

The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri is Catherine Hanaway, former speaker of the Missouri House and the Republican candidate for secretary of state in 2004."

I renewed my registration entirely online this time. I only had to leave home for the inspection. I don't even know where the nearest fee office is.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. It has gotten really bad since blunt was elected

About time they investigated.

It is so much easier in Kansas.

[evlbstrd]

3. I've heard others complain about it.

Like I said, I barely had to get off my butt.