Cost of House lounge renovations skyrocket to $140K: AP

By Jennifer Peebles | Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Yikes! The price tag for the state House lounge renovations is now up to $140,000 — and still, no one is taking responsibility for it.

This from the Associated Press, via the Dallas Morning News:

AUSTIN – State officials have ordered up at least $140,000 in renovations to the members-only lounge in the Texas House of Representatives, where antique brass chandeliers are being hung above granite countertops, two big screen TVs and a new $3,400 ice maker, according to records provided to The Associated Press.

The records reveal new details about the lounge renovation, which comes at the same time Gov. Rick Perry has asked state agencies to “dial back their spending.” It also comes as House GOP members, led by Speaker Tom Craddick, have retired to the Lost Pines Resort and Spa for two days of strategizing with lobbyists paying up to $25,000 each to join in.

The records also shed no new light on who is in charge of this project. House Accountant Steve Adrian said “no particular person” initiated the renovation idea.

Yep, while our lawmakers are off at the spa with the fat-cat lobbyists, little green leprechauns sprang out from under some toadstools in Austin and ordered up a huge renovation of the House lounge — and then magically disappeared.

Anybody got any other theories they want to throw out?

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