Oklahoma's State Capital Building is Crumbling

[carltonplace]

There IS a certain unfinished building down along the Oklahoma River that already has had plenty of public funding thrown at it.

Was just thinking the exact same thing. Move into that unfinished museum and then give Tulsa the repair budget to build the OKPOP and some public transit.

[Townsend]

Was just thinking the exact same thing. Move into that unfinished museum and then give Tulsa the repair budget to build the OKPOP and some public transit.

I'd have to assume that would not be greasing the desired palms.

I would agree with this course of action though.

[carltonplace]

Maybe they could use parts of the ten commandments statue for patching material on the capital.

[Townsend]

House, Senate GOP Caucuses hold Retreats, Focus on Budget

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/house-senate-gop-caucuses-hold-retreats-focus-budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republicans in the House and Senate have met separately to line up priorities for the upcoming legislative session that begins in February, and one topic is dominating those conversations — a billion-dollar hole in next year's state budget.

House Republicans met last week to review details of the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

House Speaker Jeff Hickman said other priorities will be reviewing new public education standards and voting on a bond issue to complete repairs to the state Capitol.

Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman says Senate Republicans met late last month and also focused primarily on the budget, including rolling back some tax breaks and incentives.

House Democrats said they'll back additional funding for the Capitol and targeting some tax credits.

How can they believe that the capital building is so important to those of us without a voice?

[heironymouspasparagus]

Failin' has led the charge to cut education by 25% in the last few years - now is using this contrived budget shortfall (due entirely to her and the legislature's incompetence and mismanagement) to cut another 4% or so.... yeah, we're doing fine, Oklahoma....Oklahoma (no longer) OK!!

[Hoss]

Failin' has led the charge to cut education by 25% in the last few years - now is using this contrived budget shortfall (due entirely to her and the legislature's incompetence and mismanagement) to cut another 4% or so.... yeah, we're doing fine, Oklahoma....Oklahoma (no longer) OK!!

Actually, I think the new Oklahoma motto should be "Oklahoma...just meh.."

[TheArtist]

  We have known for a LONG time that oil in Oklahoma is on the way out, one way or the other.  And thus we have known for a long time that we will have to begin, sooner rather than later, working to create an economy built on other things.

Why we are where we are now is very frustrating.

[Conan71]

  We have known for a LONG time that oil in Oklahoma is on the way out, one way or the other.  And thus we have known for a long time that we will have to begin, sooner rather than later, working to create an economy built on other things.

Why we are where we are now is very frustrating.

We hit it big at the casino again for nine of the last ten years.  What the legislators forget is what every degenerate gambler does: the house always wins and you eventually go home broke.

[Laramie]

Not sure what kind of structural test were done on the Oklahoma state capitol building before they added the dome; however, whatever was happening at the time with the building, the addition of the dome may have accelerated the crumbling.

Restoration of this Roman Corinthian style building needs immediate attention.

The south side of the structure appears to be in a lot worst condition than the north--which is pictured above; not to mention the internal concerns.

This beautiful structure should have never been allowed to deteriorate to its current condition.

[Conan71]

Not sure what kind of structural test were done on the Oklahoma state capitol building before they added the dome; however, whatever was happening at the time with the building, the addition of the dome may have accelerated the crumbling.

I doubt any sort of structural analysis was done, who would have thought of that? 

The crumbling existed at the time Keating thought we needed a dome instead of addressing 80-90 year old plumbing and wiring issues as well as settling and issues brought on by mold over the years.

Turns out cracks in the 12 year old, poorly-constructed dome, which was funded with private funds, was the catalyst for the need to rehab the entire capital complex.

Let the words sink in:  The dome was built with private funds.  There were "Significant cracks in the pre-cast dome structure" discovered in 2014 that brought about the whole $100M+ project to re-hab the entire building.

If the additional weight of the dome caused any additional structural damage, should that be paid for by public funds or private funds since the dome installation was done from private funds?  Interesting question.

I think the capital restoration project is every bit the boondoggle the Indian museum is on the south side of the Oklahoma River.  We could accomplish the business of the state in really nice new construction for what has already been allotted to restore what was a turd of a building in the first place.

[Townsend]

Plan for $125M Bond Issue Approved by Oklahoma House

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/plan-125m-bond-issue-approved-oklahoma-house

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A plan for a $125 million bond issue to pay for a second phase of renovations to the Oklahoma Capitol has narrowly cleared the House of Representatives.

The House voted 51-43 during a late-night session Wednesday to approve a bill authorizing the sale of the bonds. A bill needs 51 votes to pass the 101-member House. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

The Legislature approved a $120 million bond issue to repair the Capitol two years ago. Some of those opposed to the plan questioned why all the upgrades to date have been renovations of House and Senate office space.

Annual lease payments on a 20-year bond are projected to be $8.4 million.

[cannon_fodder]

$120mil for upgrades.

$125mil for the dome.

A brand new single wide 1000 sq ft. mobile home can be purchased for less than $30k. If we buy 159 of them, surely we can get a discount. A 2 or 3 bedroom trailer has 2 baths and a living room, they don't really need the kitchen either... surely we can make that work as a single office for a legislator.  But lets buy another 141 for mandatory staff or whatever. We also need a big tent so all of our legislators can meet.

300 single wide trailers, at $25k each = $7,500,000

Big tent for revival legislator meetings = $100,000

$7.6 mil. Problem solved.  Take the other $200mil and lets start an endowment for education.

Our new capital, I dub thee Oklatopia:



(I'm really hateful today)

[heironymouspasparagus]

Don't forget the $175 million in interest payments over the life of the bonds.  Am sure that Failin's and the Clown Show's buddies are all lined up for double tax exempt bonds.  Bet ya no regular people will get to buy any of those...kinda like the Turnpike Authority....

[heironymouspasparagus]

(I'm really hateful today)

Not nearly hateful enough...

I am though.

[Conan71]

I have a massive case of indigestion from all the shitburgers the OK Legislature have served this session.