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Governor Jay Nixon has hired former Missouri State University President Mike Nietzel as a senior policy adviser.

Nietzel will be a full time employee and paid $100,000 a year.

The position is new, leading KRCG viewers to ask why the governor would create such a high-paying position, while state employees continue to loose their jobs.

KRCG's Facebook Crew took that question to the Governor's Office Thursday to get some answers.

Before landing the new, $100,000 a year position, Mike Nietzel advised Governor Nixon on education issues and work force readiness since April 2010.

Now, as a senior policy adviser, he will be part of the Governor's team.

While the salary isn't nearly as much as the $200,000 he got as president as Missouri State, some residents aren't happy with it.

"I think with all the cuts that have been made at MoDOT and all other state agencies, that money probably could have been used for something better,” Cole County Resident Brandi Phillips said.

Most of the people I spoke with Thursday agreed on one thing, that Governor Nixon should have never created a position that pays $100,000 while state employees are being let go almost every day.

"I think it's kind of a ridiculous notion to hire somebody for $100,000 a year for a new position that was getting volunteered for. There are many other avenues that could have been explored,” Cole County Resident Dustin said.

So how is the Governor paying for this position?

The Governor's Press Secretary Scott Holste told me the money for the new senior policy adviser position is coming out of the Governor's budget.

Right now the Governor's budget is a little more than $2 million a year.

Tell us what you think. Do you think the Governor should have created a new senior policy adviser position?

Preview Story:

Governor Jay Nixon has hired former Missouri State University president Mike Nietzel as a senior policy adviser.

Nietzel will be paid $100,000 a year in the new, full-time position. Nietzel has advised Nixon on education issues and work force readiness since April 2010.

But many viewers are wanting to know why the Governor created such a high paying position, while state employees continue to lose their jobs.

Tonight at ten KRCG's Facebook Crew explains how the Governor is paying  for this position.

(The Associated Press Contributed to this article)