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Mo. Department of Revenue director resigns amid document scanning controversy

By Eli Yokley

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon announced Monday that Brian Long, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, has resigned from his position, as the controversy regarding the department’s document scanning process continues.

“I want to thank Brian for his service to the state of Missouri in heading up this department, and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Nixon said in a one-line statement announcing Long’s departure.

Long joined Nixon just over five months ago, two days after the department issued a letter saying they would begin implementing new procedures for driver and non-driver licenses. The procedures, which some see as similar to those required by the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, have sparked outrage by members of the General Assembly, who point out that a 2009 state law bans the implementation of REAL ID.

Nixon’s office said Monday that John Mollenkamp, deputy director of the department, had been promoted to acting director of the agency.

The resignation comes as lawmakers are continuing their own investigations into the agency, as well as the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri Highway Patrol, which said last week that they had sent files containing personal information to the Social Security Administration.

House Speaker Tim Jones said last week that he was ready to give subpoena power to the House Government Oversight and Accountability Committee to investigate the procedures, similar to power Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey has already given to Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated as it develops.