Never Mind

There was a funny juxtaposition in Sunday's Republic.  The cover of the Viewpoints section featured two views on the need for renovations to the State Capitol grounds. 

Jon Talton, who is famous for using his position as the Republic's Business columnist as a platform to bash Phoenix and its leaders for their inadequacies, used his column to proclaim that the Capitol wouldn't be renovated. 

Ask conservatives about a new state Capitol building to commemorate the state's centennial in 2012, and you'll hear, "That's crazy. If government has that kind of money sitting around, return it to the people as a tax cut."

Ask moderates and liberals, and they may say, "That's crazy. Why would we build a new Capitol when we need schools, roads and health care?"

This is my crude, unscientific survey, but I suspect it represents a broad swath of opinion.

The other Op-Ed column was by conservative über lobbyist Kevin DeMenna.  Did DeMenna claim that the proposal was crazy and that the money should be returned as a tax cut? Not hardly.

So, let's get started. The sooner the full Legislature becomes actively engaged, along with community and business leaders, the closer we will be to swapping the architectural wasteland at 1700 W. Washington St. for the dignified buildings worthy to be called the Arizona Capitol.

Well, Talton was half right, his survey was crude and unscientific. 

Like Emily Litella used to say...never mind. 

Comments

[Sen. No]

Conservative and lobbyist is a classic oxymoron

[BobH]

It used to be an oxymoron, but not in the era of "big-government conservatism".

[elinor stickney]

How many other states have built new state capitols?

[Nick]

How many buildings are as old?

[john]

Gee - a lobbyist like DeMenna suggesting that lawmakers who he sucks up to should get new digs, what a shock!

I say, trade some state trust land to a developer in exchange for building a new state capitol. It works for everything else in this state, why not make it work for our lawmakers as well.