Probe Reportedly Launched into Awarding of Fee Offices

A federal investigation into how the Blunt Administration handled private contracts to run fee offices appears to be underway. The Associated Press reports that federal investigators are interviewing former state contractors about how Governor Matt Blunt’s office awarded the contracts to operate vehicle license offices. Blunt shook up the license fee office system in Missouri when he became Governor, privatizing those that the state previously operated. He said it would cut costs and make the offices more efficient. The Governor’s office reports privitization of the license fee offices has saved $7.2 million in General Revenue. The AP reports that a former contract agent for one of the license offices told it that she had been contacted several times by FBI agents and that other former contractors had been contacted, as well. She requested the AP not use her name.