Controversial door to be closed during next legislative session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A controversial electronic security door at the Capitol won't be operating when lawmakers return this week for their annual veto session, state officials said Monday.

The $16,000 South African-made door, which has come under fire from employees and lawmakers both for its cost and design, is being turned off Tuesday through Thursday.

Instead, a guard will be posted at an entrance from a state Senate parking garage to the Capitol during the daytime. State officials say the door is scheduled to be reactivated on Friday.

Dave Mosby, the Missouri Capitol complex operations manager, said the decision to deactivate the door was made for convenience and not because of the criticism.

"We did this strictly because we didn't want some large lines because some people didn't know how to make it operate," Mosby said.

The first day of veto session coincides with the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks that prompted tighter Capitol security and led to the installation of the new door.