Neil Gaiman fee queried by another politician

A Minnesota politician has proposed that the state's regional library system budget be cut to cover the cost of Neil Gaiman's 2010 appearance.

State House Republican committee chairman Dean Urdahl recommended that $45,000 (£27,400) be deducted from the budget, the same amount the Sandman scribe received for speaking at the state's Stillwater library.

"I simply subtracted out $45,000 - just making a point," he told local newspaper Star-Tribune.

Gaiman, who donated the remainder of his $45,000 to charity after settling agents' fees, was previously criticised by another Minnesota politician, Matt Dean, who branded him a "pencil-necked little weasel who stole $45,000 from the state of Minnesota". Dean later apologised for his remarks.

Speaking to CityPages, the writer responded to Urdahl's proposed budget slash, calling it "a sad way to make a point".

Gaiman is best known for his critically-acclaimed work in comic books and fantasy prose novels. He recently scripted an episode of Doctor Who titled 'The Doctor's Wife', scheduled to air on May 14.