Proposal would convert building into space for Legislature

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Transforming the Missouri Department of Transportation headquarters into a space for some legislative and executive branch employees is among the projects that could be funded with new bond revenue.

At issue is last year's bonding plan for about $353 million of renovation projects at higher education institutions and state facilities, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported. A proposal for using that money sets aside $35 million to convert the MoDOT building, which is just a few paces from the Capitol, into the "Capitol Annex." An additional $40 million would be used for stone repairs to stop leaks in the Capitol itself.

"It will provide more office space, more hearing rooms and, probably more important, get staff to where they have decent working conditions," Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, said as he presented a list of projects Thursday to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee.

Decisions on which legislative staff members and executive branch employees would move to the building have not been made, Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard said after the hearing.

Other Transportation Department buildings can house operations currently in the headquarters building, Richard said. Along with offices, the annex building would be outfitted with committee hearing rooms and a media center for lawmakers to do live television interviews.

Dozens of House members are now crammed into offices stacked on the Capitol's first floor. The upper offices are cramped, hot and inaccessible to people with disabilities.

"Anyone who has been speaker of the House understands the problem," said Richard, who was speaker from 2009 to 2011.

In his State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Jay Nixon endorsed using the new bond authority. His budget proposal asks lawmakers to approve spending the money in the current fiscal year, a necessary step before the bonds can be issued.