Missouri lieutenant governor office renovations top $50,000

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri has approved more than $54,000 for remodeling the Capitol office of new Lt. Gov. Mike Parson.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the Republican lieutenant governor has spent about $8,500 on new furniture and more than $46,000 on updates, including new hardwood flooring, wall repairs, replacing wiring and new kitchen appliances.

The updates come as Republican Gov. Eric Greitens has warned Missouri's budget is broken and has deepened the mid-year budget cuts made by his predecessor, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.

Parson also has requested a $125,000 increase to his current budget, including $35,000 for travel expenses and money for mileage reimbursements.

The lieutenant governor's spokesman, Tyler Habiger told the Post-Dispatch the office hasn't been updated since former lieutenant governor Peter Kinder took office in 2005.

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com