BMV reform good sense, smart politics (09/01/06)

Joel Silverman has to be the loneliest man in state government.

The head of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is never a beloved figure, but few have been politically pilloried the way Silverman has.

As the hand-picked choice of Gov. Mitch Daniels, Silverman has irked lawmakers and ordinary citizens alike with the closing of branches, tactics which have come across as high-handed, and a major league snafu with a computer system switchover in July.

It's no wonder the Democrats are calling for his head.

But now the Republicans are distancing themselves as well.

This week the House GOP unveiled its own proposals for reforming Silverman's agency.

The GOP plan, which House leaders say was sparked by concerns from State Rep. Bill Davis (R-Portland), offers some solid, concrete, practical measures that could be taken.

It includes incentives to steer transactions onto the Internet, the offering of BMV services at car dealerships and insurance offices, service guarantees to minimize waiting time, and a realignment of business hours to serve the customer better.

All of those appear to make sense, but it's interesting to note that the ideas didn't originate with the governor's office or the BMV director.

Though the GOP would like to portray the proposals unveiled this week as simply a matter of good government, they're primarily an exercise in smart politics.

By pledging to fix the BMV, House Republicans not only put themselves on the side of folks who are frustrated with its inefficiencies and bureaucracy, they also hope to remove the BMV from the agenda for the November election. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]