House committee questions UM System officials on budget, enrollment
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House committee questions UM System officials on budget, enrollment

Date: February 3, 2016
By: Nicole Shaddy
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Top UM System officials were grilled by Missouri budget writers at an appropriations committee hearing.
RunTime: 0:36
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: St. Louis City Representative Joshua Peters questioned the UM system's interim president Mike Middleton about university officials spending taxpayer dollars on expensive hotel stays.

Actuality:  PETERS2.WAV
Run Time: 00:11
Description: "This is serious. This is serious dollars, these are serious funds. There are universities that are trying to do good deeds and can utilize these dollars instead of being spent at the Ritz-Carlton hotel."

Peters said he could count at least 9 nights of university official stays in the Ritz-Carlton.

Middleton said he does not plan on staying in the Ritz-Carlton during his term as president.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.

Intro: 
Top UM System officials came under criticism by Missouri budget writers about expensive hotel stays on the taxpayer's dime.
RunTime: 0:34
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: St. Louis City Representative Joshua Peters said he could count at least 9 nights of university official stays at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel over the past few years, all using taxpayer money.

Interim system president Mike Middleton spoke in response to Peters calling this a "serious" situation.

Actuality:  MIDDLE1.WAV
Run Time: 00:06
Description: "I've never stayed at a Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons, nor do I intend to, particularly on the state's dime."
Peters said the university system has paid upwards of 9 thousand dollars for one curator to stay at the Four Seasons in the past.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.