Dixon Calls For Hearings on MIAC

Springfield State Rep. Bob Dixon is calling on the House to hold hearings on how the Missouri Information Analysis Center forms its security reports.

The call comes after a controversial security document targeting some conservative groups ignited a political firestorm in Jefferson City that lead to elimination of the report and the replacement of the MIAC director.

Dixon said the hearings, the majority which could occur this summer, would help ensure that future reports produced by MIAC are "properly and adequately supervised."

"I think we can all agree safeguards need to be in place so that no one fears or suspects profiling by political affiliation or protected speech," Dixon said in a media availability at Missouri State University Tuesday. "Frankly, what better way to clear the air and combat misinformation than public hearings."

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DIXON SAID HE WANTS HEARINGS TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• How did the process work?
• What are the sources that were used?
• How did they arrive at the "perceived threats?"
• What level of threat did this report merit?

*WATCH A CLIP OF DIXON ABOVE*

Due to time constraints in the legislature, Dixon said the ongoing committee could use the summer to study the issue and then make recommendations. "It might be a longer term study . . . because we've got a lot going on right now," Dixon said.

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Asked to comment on the House's move to permit college students to carry concealed weapons on campus, Dixon told a KY3 photographer he "didn't have time" to answer the question.

Dixon is a 2010 candidate for Springfield's State Senate seat.