Missouri Senate approves change to license office bidding

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.-- The Missouri Revenue Department would be blocked from considering how much a contractor would pay back to the state for running license offices under a proposal moving forward in the Legislature.

The Missouri Senate gave unanimous approval Thursday to a measure that would stop what some legislators have criticized as a pay-to-play arrangement that has disadvantaged not-for-profit groups.

The revenue department has awarded contracts to run offices that issue vehicle and driver's licenses in part based on how much of the profit bidders promise to pay back to the state.

Democratic Sen. Gina Walsh, of Bellefontaine Neighbors, says the money should stay in communities and the bidding process should more heavily consider nonprofits.

The bidding process was required under a 2009 law that ended a political patronage system.