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Missouri license office contracts still controversial

By AP/KWMU

Jefferson City, Mo. – Partisan rancor continues to surround the selection of agents to run Missouri's motor vehicle offices, despite efforts to reshape the process and remove the politics.

For decades, governors from both parties have used license offices to reward allies and campaign donors. Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon has pledged to change that and is using competitive bidding instead. But that has not eliminated the controversy.

Nixon has received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from those picked to run the offices.

That has prompted objections from the Missouri Republican Party. The GOP contends political patronage is still a factor.

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