Conservative Think Tank Paid Daniels For speech

A Purdue University spokeswoman says school President Mitch Daniels was paid for a speech at a conservative Minnesota think tank's fundraiser that some believe broke his pledge to avoid partisan politics.

Purdue spokeswoman Shelley Triol said the payment amount for Monday's speech by Daniels wasn't being disclosed at the request of The Center of the American Experiment. She told the Journal & Courier that Daniels isn't required to disclose what he's paid for such events.

The former Indiana governor traveled on a Purdue plane to Minneapolis for the speech and then to New York to take part Tuesday in NBC News' Education Nation panel.

Purdue trustees chairman Tom Spurgeon said Daniels' use of the school plane was appropriate and that Purdue benefits from him speaking at conferences and events.