The Blunt Administration has some pretty serious explaining to do over their handling of the Katy Trail bridge issue.

The Blunt Administration has repeatedly said that their decision to give the bridge away in Boonville to political contributors does not jeopardize the rest of the trail.

Gov. Blunt even had DNR Director Doyle Childers tell the Southeast Missourian [1]:

Department of Natural Resources director Doyle Childers said the agency's decision is legally sound...

Childers goes on to say:

"Enough lawyers looked at it to probably start a new bar association," Childers said. "I am fully confident it was examined by competent legal people."

Apparently the lawyers Childers is referring to all worked for Union Pacific, because according to the Post Dispatch [2], an attorney hired by DNR rendered an opinion that said Blunt's action in fact jeopardizes the entire trail.

The department also had contracted with attorney Charles Montagne to provide legal advice on preserving the bridge. In January, Montagne issued a memo that said removing the bridge would threaten the corridor that was being banked for possible future railroad use, and in the interim being used as a recreational trail.

We must keep asking [2], why would they lie?