LexRides

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Finally....

Capitol offices project shelved
Senate leader calls off work after criticism

Facing criticism from lawmakers in his own party, Republican State Senate President David Williams indefinitely shelved a planned $448,997 renovation of an office suite for legislators on Wednesday, citing the "present financial constraints" in state government.

In a letter, the Burkesville Republican instructed Legislative Research Commission Director Robert Sherman "to take those steps necessary" to put off the planned remodeling of the Senate offices on the second floor of the state Capitol Annex office building.

The Herald-Leader first reported last week that the Senate office suites were slated to get additional meeting rooms with kitchens, a press conference area and a Senate lounge, as well as receive new electronics and appliances. The proposed new digs set off a storm of criticism from advocates of social service programs facing severe budget cuts.

At the time, Williams dismissed the criticism and denied any suggestion that budget cuts are inflicting real pain.

"We're in relatively good shape with our state budget, compared to what some other state governments are going through," Williams said last week. Regarding the Health and Family Services Cabinet and the Justice Cabinet, both of which are reporting sweeping program cuts, he said, "You're talking about people who you couldn't print enough money for. I don't accept the premise that they're cutting anything to the bone."

On Wednesday, even Republican state senators began piling on.

Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown and chairman of the Senate state government committee, sent Williams a letter asking him to put off the project.

"I heard from a lot of my constituents who were concerned about it," Thayer said in an interview. "They understand these are uncertain economic times, and state government needs to tighten its belt just like families and businesses. They take issue with a construction project like this taking place at this time."

Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, and Sen. Ken Winters, R-Murray, also publicly urged Williams to put the project on hold. Both face Democratic challengers this fall.

Kathy Groob, a Northern Kentucky Democrat opposing Westwood, dubbed it the "Senate Re-DecorateGate Scandal" in a statement she issued criticizing the spending.

Williams noted in his three-paragraph letter that the conversion of an additional 5,250 square feet of office space would have completed the final phase of five years worth of renovations. The Bardstown firm of BCD Inc. submitted the lowest bid of $448,997 for the construction on Tuesday.

The three-phase project has allowed lawmakers to spread out in the building, forcing executive branch agencies such as the office of the Kentucky State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts and Agriculture Department to relocate.

Taxpayers will spend more than $400,000 this year on rent payments for those agencies.

Thayer, a self-described fiscal conservative who is also up for re-election this fall, added that the executive branch also could stand to cut back.

For instance, he said that one of the agencies that had to relocate after being booted from the Capitol Annex should be eliminated. The office of the State Treasurer, which prints state checks and manages the Kentucky unclaimed-property fund, is "constitutionally outdated," Thayer said, noting that it no longer manages the government's money. The Finance and Administration Cabinet does that.

State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach has opposed Thayer's past legislation to abolish the office.

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but how are they going to decide what programs to cut and how big a tax break to give the coal companies without flat screen tvs?
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Albert Einstein trembled when he found out time was water. Seeping through the rafters to put out this burning world.