Texas House Spends Thousands To Renovate Members’ Lounge
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Texas House Spends Thousands To Renovate Members’ Lounge Save Email Print

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(November 18, 20080--State officials have ordered at least $140,000 in renovations to the members-only lounge in the Texas House.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday the lounge will have antique brass chandeliers above granite countertops, two big screen TVs and a $3,400 icemaker.

Records provided to AP, under freedom of information laws, reveal new details about the lounge renovation, which comes at the same time Gov. Rick Perry has is asking state agencies to "dial back their spending,” and House GOP members, led by Speaker Tom Craddick, are at the Lost Pines Resort and Spa for strategizing with lobbyists paying up to $25,000 each to join in.

House Accountant Steve Adrian said "no particular person" initiated the renovation idea.

Tom "Smitty" Smith with the watchdog group Public Citizen said it's the height of hypocrisy for legislators to be out spending money "feathering their lounge" when everybody else has to cut back.

Adrian this week called the renovation a "joint project" between the House and the Texas State Preservation Board.

House officials have purchased equipment and furnishings, such as dustom wood cabinets with granite countertops and backsplash for$61,200; a Scotsman Touchfree air-cooled flake ice maker for $3,425; Sub-zero freezer drawers for 3,517; Hatco built-in warming drawers for $2,749; two Sharp 42-inch LCD TVs for $2,198, and two under-counter refrigerators for $2,019.

An undated "estimated budget" lists a little over $140,000 in equipment and labor costs so far.

In written responses to inquiries from the AP, Adrian said officials did not foresee going beyond that, unless they need a new couch.

On Oct. 29, Nadine Craddick, the House speaker's wife e-mailed Adrian about the possible purchase of a sofa.

"This is my favorite," she said in the e-mail containing pictures of three Hancock-Moore sofa designs.

Asked if the e-mail prompted any expenditures Adrian said, "Nothing has been purchased yet."

Documents show Mrs. Craddick also gave explicit approval for a new sink and oversaw the selection of the granite used for the countertops.

Under the Texas government code, the State Preservation Board must "approve all changes to the buildings and their grounds."

Preservation Board officials could not immediately answer whether any modifications had been pre-approved by the board, which hasn't met publicly since Feb. 1, 2007.


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Posted by: Sherry Location: Santa Fe on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:14 PM
This infuriated me! But learning the TX GOP House members were at an exclusive resort for 2 days this week "strategizing with lobbyists" where some paid up to $25k to spend time with a preferred house member, made me even more angry. Is there any politician not for sale? Are they all prostitutes? I DID fax my Representative to let him know my feelings on both these matters. Go to www.capitol.state.tx.us to find your Representative's contact information and CONTACT HIM. Let him know you're mad as hell!

Posted by: me Location: waco on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:37 AM
So, they bought a new sofa. Big deal.

Posted by: Yep Location: Cove on Nov 20, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Agree whole heartedly with you all, but Stephanie, I think the term is Ends MEET....hate to be hypercritical but what you wrote can have a WAYYYYY different interpretation....lol

Posted by: stephanie Location: killeen on Nov 19, 2008 at 03:35 PM
man for the economy going downwards politics want a bailout but yet they have money to fix up a members only lounge. instead of fixing that up they could be helping out hard working families that barely make ends meat.

Posted by: Linda Location: Chilton on Nov 19, 2008 at 03:25 PM
My house need painting inside and out where can I sign up for these thing that I really need??

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Nov 19, 2008 at 12:47 PM
To all you complainers out there..............WELL SPOKEN! Now THIS is something to get worked up about. Some of these yahoos were probably looking down on AIG when they took thier little "excursion". nothing worse than a hypocrit.

Posted by: ticked off Location: gatesville on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I think these law makers, state and federal need to take a pay cut. Let all of them try to live on minimum wages. Let all of them see what it's like to have to juggle bills each month, trying to see what you can pay and what has to wait. Let them see what it's like to go hungry cause all the money goes to trying to pay bills. I've tried to get food stamps to help feed my children till I can get completely back on my feet, and I got told that I make too much money to get any help at all. And it ticks me off that all these law makers throw lavish parties, have food every night to eat, live in pricey houses, jetset whereever they want while most of us do without the majority of the time. People are losing their jobs because of companies going under, hardly anyone that's not rich can make ends meat anymore. Those of us that live week to week are the ones that are suffering and now these idiots in Austin are renovating a dang lounge with out tax dollars, what's next????

Posted by: ginny Location: cove on Nov 19, 2008 at 09:56 AM
i have to agree with the 1st poster. the rest of us in the private sector are being told tighten your belts. well hello these big shots are no better than the rest of us except maybe they lie very well. i'm tired of footing the bill so these a-holes can have lavish lifestyles. put a stop to worthless spending in the goverment now!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 19, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Seeing as to how I've helped pay for all these lavish expenses, I would like to know when I get my member pass.

Posted by: John E. Location: Salado, TX on Nov 19, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Stupid is as stupid does!!! Why waste money on road repairs when it can be wasted on pampering politicians! Duh! We can just turn every free road into a toll road and let the corrupt leaders of our state lounge in style.

Posted by: Patriot Location: Texas on Nov 19, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Yeah, this looks bad and is bad. Yet, it's a drop in the bucket compared to what the U.S. Congress spends. All state and federal legislators need to clean up their act. But, I wouldn't hold my breath......

Posted by: ray Location: killeen on Nov 19, 2008 at 07:27 AM
texas politicians are not known for being smart maybe they would like a raise too since the economys great and everyone has jobs.no ones going hungry

Posted by: Gary Location: Mart on Nov 19, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Hasn't anyone noticed? Elected officials are outside 'spending cuts' and even the LAWS they make up. It's been that way for years now.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: killeen on Nov 19, 2008 at 01:41 AM
This is outrage spend it on themeselves and the not the hard working americans. like messed up said people are out of work and can't find jobs and the gov. is spend all this money on lavish items to better suit them. Help the people before you give more lavish items to yourself. I can think of many ways 140,000 can be sent other then on ice maker, ref. countertops. I guess we need to have our gov come out to the real world and see how many people are without jobs or working for $7.oo per hour and have to hold two and three jobs to make ends meat. No wounder their is so much crime in this world and our teen agers run free becuase parents can't be home enought with them becaues we have to earn money to pay taxes so you can get a new lounge. This is outrages and our solidors are dieing and we don't give much to the spouce after they gave their live for the US country but you can spend this type of money on items not needed. It will continue if we don't fight our gov.

Posted by: this is messed up Location: The sad state of Texas on Nov 18, 2008 at 09:14 PM
I say if they want to pay for these things out of their own pockets, more power to them (although, we as American people pad their pockets nicely). Other wise, they need to meet in their already provided offices or in each others living rooms. If the state is going to allow this kind of money to be spent on lavish things, the government can give me back the thousands upon thousands my husband and I have paid in taxes over the years. I can think of many more things to spend that kind of money on other than ice makers and televisions...The State of Texas needs to open it's eyes, THETRE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WITHOUT WORK AND CAN'T PAY BILLS OR EAT TODAY, due to the many companies going out of business!! Not to mention the many soldiers WHO ARE BEING KILLED EVERYDAY, due to not having proper supplies!!

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