What started as a $20 million repair to the capitol building, is becoming the cinder block that could drown the state and threaten public safety for all of us.
The legislature has an insatiable appetite for luxury and self-indulgence. This is obvious when you look at a capitol build which once housed the entire state govt. under Democrat dominance. Now the building doesn't house the high courts, Attorney General, Labor, education, Insurance, or the records of those agencies. Yet the legislature voted to give themselves a health spa and fitness center in the basement. Never mind that the constitution specifies that the core state offices and functions (including all records) must remain operational in the seat of govt. (the building).
When Gov. Keating promised a dome over the rotunda, he said it would be paid by private donors. The building was solid without a dome for 80 years, but not only did the dome require our tax dollars to get completed; it led to a massive foundational failure which now requires a major structural rebuild.
The project didn't end there. The legislature expanded the project by several hundred million, several years, and led to a constitutional crisis when unelected officials tried to evict the State Auditor, last summer.
Now the project just kicked out the legislature during a crisis special session.
The Dept. of Mental health will shut down next month if they don't get emergency funding. Hundreds of mentally ill will be released to the streets to fend for themselves if a budget fix is not applied quickly.
But the legislature decided that electrical repairs are more pressing and decided to adjourn for 10 days, before resuming their special session.
God help us, because we sure aren't helping ourselves.
Read more on the shutdown details at Muskogee Politico.
The legislature has an insatiable appetite for luxury and self-indulgence. This is obvious when you look at a capitol build which once housed the entire state govt. under Democrat dominance. Now the building doesn't house the high courts, Attorney General, Labor, education, Insurance, or the records of those agencies. Yet the legislature voted to give themselves a health spa and fitness center in the basement. Never mind that the constitution specifies that the core state offices and functions (including all records) must remain operational in the seat of govt. (the building).
When Gov. Keating promised a dome over the rotunda, he said it would be paid by private donors. The building was solid without a dome for 80 years, but not only did the dome require our tax dollars to get completed; it led to a massive foundational failure which now requires a major structural rebuild.
The project didn't end there. The legislature expanded the project by several hundred million, several years, and led to a constitutional crisis when unelected officials tried to evict the State Auditor, last summer.
Now the project just kicked out the legislature during a crisis special session.
The Dept. of Mental health will shut down next month if they don't get emergency funding. Hundreds of mentally ill will be released to the streets to fend for themselves if a budget fix is not applied quickly.
But the legislature decided that electrical repairs are more pressing and decided to adjourn for 10 days, before resuming their special session.
God help us, because we sure aren't helping ourselves.
Read more on the shutdown details at Muskogee Politico.
