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Democrats Want Probe Into What Administration Knew About BMV Overcharges

Chris Richards
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrismrichards/1525185825

Indiana Democrats say Hoosiers need answers about BMV overcharges.  Their calls for an investigation come after new reports suggesting top officials knew about the overcharges long before the BMV halted the practice. 

A story in the Indianapolis Star alleges top BMV officials were told of the overcharges – which could amount to as much as $100 million – years before the state revealed them to the public. 

State Democratic Party Chairman John Zody says if those allegations are true, Hoosiers have a right to know.

“The Indiana BMV is the front door of state government and someone needs to kick that door open and find out what is really going on,” Zody says.

Zody wants the state Inspector General, along with the Marion County prosecutor and the U.S. Attorney, to launch an investigation into the BMV overcharges. 

In a statement, Governor Mike Pence’s spokesperson Kara Brooks says Pence took swift action in 2013 when he learned of the overcharges.  She says the administration continues its work correcting the fee system. 

BMV spokesman Josh Gillespie says there is no evidence of a cover up and notes that the amount of undercharges actually exceeds overcharges.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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