Blunt Open to Fee Office Reform Proposals

Governor Matt Blunt responds to the the fee office reform plan put forward by five Republican members of the Missouri House. Basically, it’s a proposal to end the patronage system in the awarding of fee office contracts and to award the fee offices to charitable organizations or local government entities. The plan was outlined by the lawmakers who claimed they went ahead with their tour of Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield only after they were unable to meet with the Governor to discuss their concerns. On the reform proposals, Blunt remains open to working with lawmakers on possible changes. As for the claim that a meeting could not be arranged, he says he tried to set up the get together but was unable to fit a time into the schedules of all the lawmakers. Asked whether he was disappointed the lawmakers went ahead with their tour and made their concerns public, Blunt says he is not disappointed because the tour is “not of much consequence.”