A Missouri House committee formed to investigate the Department of Revenue’s scanning of driver’s license applicants’ documents has begun two days of hearings into the controversy.
The first witness to testify before the House Bipartisan Investigative Committee on Privacy Protection was Jackie Bemboom, head of the Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License division.
She testified under oath that they are not trying to comply with the federal Real I-D Act of 2005, but that several of their procedures coincide with Real I-D.
“Real I-D asks for the photo to be on the license,” Bemboomsaisd. “Real I-D asks for a database, and we’ve been doing a database since 1939.”
But committee member and Osage County Sheriff Michael Dixon said Revenue officials have complied with 34 out of 39 items, giving the impression that the department is trying to comply with Real I-D.
Bemboom maintains that the scanning and storing of source documents is being done to combat fraud. The chair of the committee, Republican House Member Stanley Cox of Sedalia, said several officials from Governor Nixon’s office were set to appear Wednesday, but have since canceled.
