House General Administration Questions Governor's Expenses
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House General Administration Questions Governor's Expenses

Date: February 7, 2011
By: Danielle McCarthy
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The House Appropriations Committee on General Administration discussed growing concerns over the governor's travel expenses. Danielle McCarthy has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:  0:41
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The governor's chief of staff will provide the House Appropriations Committee with more information on all of the governor's past flights.

This comes after the administration grilled Chief of Staff John Watson on what they call his excessive travel expenses. 

The House's top budget leader Ryan Silvey was especially critical of what Watson had to say about Nixon's expenses.

Actuality:  SILVEY9.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: So, it's important for the state government to tighten its belt, just not the governor? We tightened our belt the first two years. So you're done tightening the belt? No, I think we will do so as we begin FY12 as well.

Watson did not say when he expects to have the spreadsheets of the governor's flights ready.

From the state Capitol, I'm Danielle McCarthy.

Intro: 
The House Appropriations Committee on General Administration is questioning Governor Jay Nixon's media operations. Danielle McCarthy has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:  0:36
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Governor Jay Nixon's communications department continues to stir up controversy.

Representative Jay Barnes is expressing concern over the governor's current communications department.

Barnes asked the governor's chief of staff about Nixon's current media operation.

Actuality:  BARNES2.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: My question is pretty open-ended. What do all these people do? Because, as someone who worked in the governor's office, I don't know that it's a four person job.

Barnes says former Governor Matt Blunt's media operation consisted of three people with a total salary of $205,000.

While, Governor Nixon's operation has four people at a combined salary of $310,000.

From the state Capitol, I'm Danielle McCarthy.

Intro: 
While the House Appropriations Committee on General Administration had a lot of questions for the governor's chief of staff, he didn't seem to have a lot of answers. Danielle McCarthy has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Questions continue over Governor Jay Nixon's travel expenses.

But, for many of the questions asked Monday at the committee hearing, the governor's chief of staff John Watson had no answers.

After recent reports of the governor billing out entire trips rather than charging them to his own travel line, House Budget Committee chairman Ryan Silvey wanted to know more.

Actuality:  WATSON4.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: How much was billed to other agencies in total for trips that the governor was on? I don't have the exact amount. Didn't think it would be an issue that might come up? Actually...no. Ok, you guys are pretty plugged in.

Watson says the governor's travel expenses are transparent, but has yet to provide more information for the committee.

From the state Capitol, I'm Danielle McCarthy.