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POLICY HIGHLIGHTER
 Volume 10, Number 7 A Little Remodeling Project Underground legislative offices cost $620 per square foot The supplemental capital budget includes $110,000,000 for what is called "legislative building preservation and renovation." Part of this $110 million--$18.6 million--is for 30,000 useable square feet for legislative offices and related usage. This means the taxpayers will be paying $620 per square foot for this little remodeling project. We do not believe this is a good use of taxpayer funds, particularly when millions of dollars are apparently needed for school classrooms. If the legislature needs more space, they should consider re-allocating existing resources; in some cases, relocating agencies to other existing state-owned or leased properties. In addition, this state’s experience with underground garages and office space is not good —the structures leak. Cost overruns on state projects are legendary. If the legislature goes ahead with this project, we believe the cost overruns could result in a final cost of $800 to $900 per square foot. Clearly if the legislature approves this project, they have not heard the voters. Prepared by Bob Williams, Senior Research Analyst, (360) 956-3482 or effwa@effwa.org
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
