April 24, 13

NEWS / Missouri Senate strips DMV of funds necessary to issue driver licenses

The Senate of Missouri passed a budget bill that would eliminate the entire $3.5 million allotment for the Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License Division. While the proposal is intended to pressure licensing officials to stop a controversial procedure that has been censured by many lawmakers, its passage would halt the issuance of driver’s licenses.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaeffer, a Republican, acknowledged the fact that the budget proposal would deprive the Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License Division of funds necessary to function, but noted that the move is intended to register senators’ disapproval of a controversial procedure in which the personal documents of driver license applicants are scanned and saved in a computer database.

Schaeffer said he hopes the proposed slashing of the budget would prompt licensing officials to be more responsive to the concerns of lawmakers, AP reports.

The budget as it stands is not likely to get passed by the Missouri House of Representatives, as the issuance of driver’s licenses is vital to the functioning of the state’s economy and the well-being of its citizens. The House will likely modify the plan to make sure that the Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License Division receives sufficient funds to continue issuing driver’s licenses.


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