Senate Majority Leader threatens special session over controversy in Department of Revenue

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Intro:	The state Department of Revenue has been under fire from lawmakers for weeks. And now lawmakers say they might hold up the Department's budget for the next year.
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Wrap: Republican Senator Kurt Schaefer has said the department is violating state law by handing the personal information of thousands of Missourians over to the federal government.

Now he says the Department is giving old state-owned ID processing equipment to a private company-- another violation of state law.

And Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard says the Senate could delay the department's budget for the next year-- if they don't start talking.

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Description: "If we have to go into special session for their budget we will go through the budget process. We will not go to their budget until you are satisfied with their answers."

The Department hasn't said anything about the equipment, but it has denied that is has been handing over information.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	The state Department of Revenue has been under fire from lawmakers for weeks. And now lawmakers say they might hold up the Department's budget for the next year.
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OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Republican Senator Kurt Schaefer says the Department of Revenue has yet to answer on his charges that its licensing process is allowing the federal government and private companies access to the identities of thousands of Missourians.

Now he and other lawmakers are threatening to delay the department's budget until senators get some answers.

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Description: "We've never really encountered anything like this before so once you no longer have that trust the question comes up that can you issue any of the public's money without confidence that you've done due diligence to make sure that its being spent appropriately."

Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard says the Senate could even go into special session this summer if it needs to.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	The state Department of Revenue has been under fire from lawmakers for weeks. And now lawmakers say they might hold up the Department's budget for the next year.
RunTime:	0:48
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Republican Senator Kurt Schaefer says the Department of Revenue has yet to prove that its licensing process isn't putting the identities of thousands of Missourians into the hands of the federal government.

Now he says the department is violating another state law by giving old state-owned ID processing equipment to a private company.

Schaefer says the Senate could delay the department's budget for the next year if it doesn't start being transparent.

Actuality:	SCHAEFF1.WAV
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Description: "What they've done is a violation of at least probably three state laws. And so we're going to have to get to the bottom of that and then the question comes up can you trust the agency with more of the public's money when you see what they have been doing in the past?"

The department hasn't said anything about the equipment, but it has denied handing over any information.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.