License-office reforms mean better service, more accountability

As I joined members of the Missouri House on Monday to announce the unveiling of a new reform package regarding how Missouri's Department of Revenue awards state license office (also know as fee offices), I thought of President John F. Kennedy's words: "Our task is not to fix blame for the past, but to fix the course for the future."

It has been extremely disappointing for me to watch partisan hacks try to fix blame on the current Republican administration for inheriting a political patronage system that was designed and perfected by previous Democratic administrations.

Regardless of who designed the fee office system or how it is being currently administered, members of the Missouri House believe it's time to quit fixing blame and fix the problem. That is why I am proud to be part of an effort to bring true reforms to how the Department of Revenue awards fee offices and how these offices are managed in the future.

Our revolutionary plan consists of three main points and various subpoints:

* Structural reorganization

End the current patronage system and allow not-for-profit, charitable groups or political subdivisions to manage fee offices.

Eliminate unaccountable third-party management companies.

No employee's salary of a fee office shall exceed $100 thousand a year.

* Accountability

The state auditor would be given authority to audit fee offices annually.

* Taxpayer protections

Shift the burden of proof from the taxpayer to the government for producing tax receipts.

Within five years, the Department of Revenue would develop a database that will compile all information necessary to renew tags and make access available to fee offices.

If a taxpayer waits in line for more than 30 minutes, the license office operator's fee would be waived.

The benefit of this plan is threefold:

1. The current patronage system would end, along with the political animosity it breeds between political parties.

2. Missouri's civic organizations that assist Missouri families and communities would greatly benefit instead of politically connected individuals. It is important to note that 37 not-for-profits groups currently manage state fee offices and do a superb job.

3. Taxpayers' wait would be shorter when renewing their tags and licenses and accessing other motor vehicle records.

If these reforms are passed by the legislature the public's trust would be re-stored in how state fee offices are awarded and operated.

More importantly, the game of fixing blame would end, and fixing the problem would begin.

Mark Wright of Springfield represents the 137th District in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he is chairman of the Administration and Accounts Committee.