JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Financial decisions of the University of Missouri System are in the spotlight as news has broken that the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) paid $65,000 to book an hour visit from Chelsea Clinton, just a week after confusion that the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) purchased a golf course. Lawmakers are raising their eyebrows amid increased budget requests and pleas for a tax increase to benefit the public school system.
Less than a week ago, the Missouri Republican Party picked up a story written by the Washington Post, causing lawmakers to quickly respond.
BREAKING: Amid rising tuition, University of Missouri paid $65,000 for a 10 min. Chelsea Clinton speech http://t.co/u53iKihAEY
— MO Republican Party (@missourigop) June 30, 2015
The school originally attempted to book former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose rate of $275,000 surprised event coordinators. In an email obtained by the Washington Post, a staff member replied with “Yikes!” after learning Hillary Clinton’s rate.
Shortly after the GOP tweeted, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was one of the first on the draw to take note of the Clinton engagement.
So, UMSL turned down Hillary Clinton for a speech at $275k, then settled for a Chelsea Clinton speech at $65k, h/t @KMOX #moleg
— Peter Kinder (@PeterKinder) June 30, 2015
Correction: It was UMKC, not UMSL, that paid Chelsea Clinton $65k for speaking for a few minutes after turning down Hillary at $275k #moleg
— Peter Kinder (@PeterKinder) June 30, 2015
Easily confused, considering heads are still spinning from the golf course purchase, which Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer put into context as the UMKC story gained national traction.
In fairness to @umkc, it is cheaper than buying a golf course https://t.co/tksPayZdt0
— Kurt U. Schaefer (@KurtUSchaefer) June 30, 2015
Sources have said that the individual purchases were made possible by private donations, causing some to think the money didn’t impact the alleged need for public dollars, but Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, spoke up today, receiving a response from UM curator David Steelman.
Wonder how many scholarships a UMSL golf course & UMKC Chelsea Clinton speaking fee gets u? @DSteelmanLaw
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) July 2, 2015
@Eric_Schmitt as a leader talking about the increasing financial burden of higher Ed your question deserves an answer.
— David L. Steelman (@DSteelmanLaw) July 2, 2015
A spokesman from UMKC said Clinton negotiated to speak for 10 minutes, to participate in a moderated question and answer session, and take 30 minutes to pose for pictures with “VIPs”. The spokesman said the fee was paid for with private donations and the each of the $35 tickets sold out – 1,100 in total. The event which Clinton was paid to be present at was to promote the opening of a women’s hall of fame.
The University of Missouri System (UM), which has 4 campuses across Missouri, has been pushing for a tax increase and insisting the system needs a larger appropriation.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
