JEFFERSON CITY—With the ongoing controversy surrounding the Missouri Department of Revenue and its release of sensitive, personal information in violation of state law, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, today called on the department to promulgate rules so that the appropriate review by the committee can take place, as the Department has sidestepped this important process.

“The rulemaking process contains important safeguards for the public. Citizens have a right to comment on rules that will seriously affect them. The department ignored that right,” said Sen. Schmitt. “Equally disturbing is that the General Assembly was completely kept in the dark, preventing us from vetting this new policy, a critical part of representing the people’s interests.”

Last month, a Stoddard County resident filed a lawsuit against DOR alleging the department had scanned and collected the citizen’s private information as part of a new policy for renewing or receiving a driver’s license or concealed carry permit.

In response, the Senate launched an investigation into the accusations. Recent developments have shown the department did not follow the rulemaking process in implementing the new policy, a violation of state law.

“In recent weeks, we’ve seen a troubling trend of state departments willfully circumventing the law and purposefully deceiving the public and the General Assembly. The Department of Education and Secondary Education has taken it upon itself to decide the distribution of the education formula funds, DOR implemented a policy in direct violation of state law, and just today, we discovered that the Highway Patrol has twice now given a list of nearly all concealed carry permit holders in Missouri to the federal government, also in violation of Missouri law. This cannot continue,” said Sen. Schmitt. “If we do not address this issue, the public’s trust in their state government will disappear. This could fundamentally change how people view our state agencies. It is critical we move quickly to address this issue and ensure our departments follow the laws set by the people’s elected officials.”

To read Sen. Schmitt's letter to DOR, click here or visit his official Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/schmitt.