The Missouri House passed a bill Thursday to give the two highest ranking legislators more power over the Capitol and other state buildings within its immediate vicinity.
The legislation, sponsored by Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, establishes the Capitol Complex Committee, consisting of the governor, speaker of the house and senate president pro tem. Currently, the Board of Public Buildings - which includes the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general - oversees these facilities.
The House speaker and Senate president pro tem are non-voting members on the Board of Public Buildings, but Fitzpatrick would like to them to cast votes.
"I think it makes a lot of sense to give the two largest tenants of this building a say in how the space is allocated," he said.
Specifically, Fitzpatrick said lawmakers want more hearing room space available to prevent scheduling conflicts and oversight of the Capitol garage. He also said certain legislators' offices are not American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant and, therefore, not welcoming to all constituents. Some staff of statewide officeholders, Fitzpatrick previously told the News Tribune, don't need to be in the Capitol and can be relocated to the renovated upper floors of the U.S. Post Office building.
Rep. Pat Conway, D-St. Joseph, spoke in favor of the bill.
"This bill, I certainly believe, will allow us to proceed in the right direction, to make this magnificent building something to be so very proud of as we approach 200 years of statehood," Conway said.
That wasn't the feeling of Rep. Margo McNeil, D-Florissant, who reflected on attempted construction in the House gallery during former
Speaker Tim Jones' time on the dais. Though she didn't mention him by name, McNeil said the former speaker was interested in expanding office space for his staff, constructing rooms in the House fourth floor press gallery.
McNeil said she feels Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, and Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, have good intentions for the Capitol and its surrounding buildings, but future General Assembly leaders may not.
"I don't know how he (Jones) had permission to go as far as he did, but the outcry from the public was so great that it was stopped and removed. And, I think that was to the benefit of all Missourians," she said. "I question whether including the speaker and the president pro tem as voting members, who have agendas to either increase room for certain people or staff members or what have you, isn't in fact a little too close to the actual operation."
The bill passed by a vote of 139-15.