Matt Blunt Takes Food From Mouths of Auto Dealers' and Leasers' Children

Blunt launches new policies for state vehicles:

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is taking steps toward saving the state more than a half million dollars a year in vehicle fleet costs.

The state is implementing two new efforts to reduce waste and cost for taxpayers, he said. The first policy requires employees using state vehicles to use an Internet-based tool, called Trip Optimizer, to calculate potential travel costs and find the most cost-effective travel option for instate trips.

In addition, the state is rolling out the Smart Lease program, which consolidates fleet leases and purchases and allows the state to refinance agencies' existing lease-purchase obligations, fund the energy-performance initiative and finance future equipment needs for the state.

When he's not busy cutting Medicaid roles, Matt Blunt cuts plane usage and makes driving more efficient among state employees. Someone not in the throes of hysteria about pet programs being cut or arbitrary lines in eligibilty being nudged might think it's remarkably consistent of the governor to try to rein in the state budget.

We at DMB2008 would be most disappointed in the direction the state would take when Matt Blunt is drafted onto the Republican ticket in 2008. But we can get over it.