Kinder, Tourism Commission Criticized in State Audit
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Kinder, Tourism Commission Criticized in State Audit

Date: September 21, 2011
By: Elizabeth Hagedorn
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
A state audit is taking aim at Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: In 2009, Kinder voted to send two and a half million dollars in taxpayer money to a non-profit company ... a company he headed.

At the time Kinder served as both the chairman of the Tour of Missouri and chairman of the Tourism Commission.

Deputy Auditor Harry Otto says this created a possible conflict of interest.

Actuality:  OTTO2.WAV
Run Time:  00:12
Description: "In wearing the hat of one board.. you vote to send dollars over to the other organization that is a potential conflict. It should have been disclosed and a refusal should have occured.

In a press release, Kinder's office called this "an accidental failure."

And noted that Kinder had no financial stake in the non-profit. 

From the state Capitol, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.  

Intro: 
Missouri's Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder is facing more scrutiny ... this time over state audit aimed at him.
RunTime:  0:32
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Two years ago, Kinder served as the chairman of a non-profit called Tour of Missouri.

But as chair of the state's Tourism Commission, he voted to send two and a half million dollars in taxpayer money to this group.

A recent state audit is criticizing Kinder's dual involvement and calls it a conflict of interest.  

But Kinder's office says this was just an "accidental failure."

He has still yet to announce whether he will run for governor against Democratic incumbent Jay Nixon.

From the state Capitol, I’m Elizabeth Hagedorn, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.