Another voice has joined the chorus asking for a closer look at MnSCU payouts.

DFL Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, Tuesday asked the state's legislative auditor to look at the sick-time pay outs some employees got when they left state employ.

"An audit will help determine the extent to which greater oversight, transparency and reforms are necessary," he said in a statement. Atkins said that he requested a hearing last week on the issue but "was declined" by the chair of the House higher ed committee. Update: The committee administrator for the higher ed committee said the request was not declined, rather the chair, Rep. Bud Nornes, said he would look into it and determine whether the issue rightly belonged within his committees jurisdiction.

A report last week said some officials of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system received payments exceeding $100,000 on retirement. According to the Pioneer Press, "between January 2008 and June 30, the state has paid out $57 million in unused sick time to about 5,600 people."

Last week, Republican Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, said he would hold hearings on the pay-outs.He has not set a date for those hearings.