Off Message

As first noted in this space, the state contract for the Warrenton fee office was awarded to the family of GOP operative James Harris last week. The Beacon's Jo Mannies spoke with Harris about the award, who confirmed (surprise!) that political affiliations, donations and histories of hackery aren't even considered when the Department of Revenue reviews fee office bids.

As far as Harris is concerned, his grandmother's success in winning the contract is proof that "the governor is doing what he said; he's awarding the contracts to those who submit the best bids."

That means Harris is apparently not of the same mind as the Missouri Republican Party, which has been critical of the awards to various allies of Nixon or the state Democratic Party.

Um, yeah. It's also worth noting that most Republican legislators are not of the same mind as the Missouri Republican Party. The law codifying the new bid process was sponsored by GOP State Rep. Ryan Silvey, and passed with large majorities in both the House and Senate.