Senators seek money to move chairs -- again

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Taxpayers could end up paying thousands of dollars to accomodate some state senators who don't like the way seats in the Missouri Senate were arranged after a $1.8 million renovation project.

A resolution passed in the waning moments of the recently completed legislative session directs the state to change the Senate desks back to their traditional configuration, which could cost as much as $148,000.

Senate Administrator Michael Keathley said Tuesday the Senate is far from deciding what action to take on the resolution passed May 17, the same day lawmakers struggled to pass measures to balance the state's budget.

A week before the measure's introduction, Gov. Bob Holden announced an additional $230 million in cuts for the current budget year that ends June 30 including more than $82 million from higher education.

The money for the chamber changes would come from a Senate contingency fund, but officials noted that 10 percent had been cut from the chamber's 2003 budget.

The Senate Administration Committee, which will have the final say on what action to take, did not discuss the issue Tuesday at a scheduled meeting.

"There is no authorization to proceed at this time" on the resolution, Keathley said. "I don't think a lot of people who signed it realized what the cost was."

One of those was Sen. Marvin Singleton, a member of the committee who signed the resolution.

"Now, maybe I'm not so eager to see things change," Singleton said after learning of the potential cost. "There are some problems with the chamber ... but if it's going to be over $100,000, obviously I would like to leave it the way it is for another year or two."

Singleton suggested that with the turnover in the Senate new lawmakers may be comfortable with the new configuration.

"Maybe they will like it," said Singleton, one of 19 senators who signed the resolution sponsored by Sen. John Schneider, D-Florissant.

Both are being forced out of office this year by voter-approved term limits, as are eight others who signed the resolution.

Senate resolution

The resolution states that the seating changes were made without Senate consent and "made it difficult for Senators to abide by the traditions and custom of the Senate" which "compromises proper order, safety and decorum in the chamber."

Schneider, a 32-year veteran of the Senate, has long fought to alter legislative term limits that limit lawmakers to eight years each in the Senate and House.

Schneider said the resolution requires senators to decide what their priorities are.

"It's a matter of how the Senate spends an amount of money it has. As far as I'm concerned, I think it is a priority and important and the majority of senators agreed," Schneider said. "Maybe somebody won't be able to take a trip. There may be different ways of doing it, probably at the least cost."

The committee has three options to consider. It could choose to spend the $148,400 for extensive changes or $6,600 to shift just a few desks. It could also choose to do nothing.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said in a statement late Tuesday that lawmakers did not have time to review the costs of the resolution before approving it.

Kinder said the movement of the desks was aimed at making it easier for senators, staff and constituents to pass between them. Generally, only senators are allowed on the chamber floor when the Senate is in session.

"Naturally, at a time of state revenue shortfalls not seen since the early 1980s, forging ahead with such an endeavor would not be prudent," said Kinder, chairman of the Senate Administration Committee.