House Rejects Capitol Repairs Bond Issue

The Oklahoman

The Oklahoma House has defeated legislation that would authorize up to $160 million in bonds to repair the state’s nearly 100-year-old Capitol.

House members voted 62-34 against the Senate-passed measure that is one of Republican Gov. Mary Fallin’s top priorities for the 2014 Legislature. The bill’s author, Rep. Skye McNeil of Bristow, kept the measure alive by serving notice that she may ask the House to reconsider the vote.

Supporters and opponents agree that the Capitol needs extensive repairs. But they disagree on how to pay for them.

Rep. Paul Wesselhoft of Moore said bonded indebtedness has caused financial problems for other states. Others, including Rep. Ben Sherrer of Choteau, favored taking $160 million from the constitutional Rainy Day fund to pay for the repairs.


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  1. Vernon Woods, 23 April, 2014

    Great, now we can pour more money onto that big hill south of town. Priorities?

  2. Steve Dickson, 23 April, 2014

    Thank you, House Republicans!

  3. Granny2003, 23 April, 2014

    Steve and “Edmond Voter,” you should be thanking the Democrats for voting this down . . . they voted unanimously against it. The Republicans were the only yes votes.

  4. Edmond Voter, 23 April, 2014

    A big thank you to the House Republicans for sanity in this situation.

    And Vernon, I hope they will be just as sane when it comes to any more funding for the AICCM and say NO MORE MONEY for this project. It’s time to sell it or auction it off to one of the indian tribes to finish and maintain. Heck , let them make it a casino and they’ll be standing in line to bid on it!

  5. Vernon Woods, 23 April, 2014

    At least no one’s been hit on the head by falling bricks down south. How long can this crap go on – until the liability law suits start pouring in? FIX THE CAPITOL!!!

  6. Steve Dickson, 23 April, 2014

    Of course it needs to be fixed. If the House and Senate and Governor can’t agree it is an emergency, declare it and use the Rainy Day Fund to fix it, they should all resign.

    Borrowing at low interest rates sounds good, unless you have a big pile of funds earning very little due to the low interest rate environment. If we are earning more than a little someone is being risky…

    Fix it! No bonds! No AICCM!

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