Our Opinion: Self-interest must play no role in Capitol stewardship

A Missouri lawmaker believes some state Capitol tenants — namely, lawmakers — deserve more control over how Capitol space is allocated and used.

We disagree, wholeheartedly.

Although existing oversight of the building may be imperfect, it is not subject to the potential chaos of nearly 200 self-interested occupants clashing about their own surroundings.

The Capitol, lest we forget, is the public’s building; legislators are temporary tenants.

A proposal by state Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, would transfer oversight of the Capitol to a newly created Capitol Complex Committee made up of the governor, Senate president pro tem and speaker of the House.

That responsibility now rests with the Board of Public Buildings, which includes the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Although legislative leaders attend the board meetings, the lawmakers have no voting authority.

In addition, preservation, renovation and decoration with the Capitol is a responsibility of an existing Capitol Commission; its membership includes state officials, legislators and public members.

We concede space concerns exist within the Capitol. Two repeated complaints are insufficient hearing room space and some loft offices that fail to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

But we believe these issues are addressed best by the existing board and commission, which promote public interest, not self-interest.

Similar concerns were voiced by state Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, who referenced rifts when he observed, “We constantly get things that happen or don’t happen because one political party is mad at the other, or the governor’s mad at the attorney general or the pro tem’s mad at the speaker or something.”

Calling for non-partisan oversight, Kehoe added: “We lose sight of the fact that we’re trying to make the building better for the next 100 years.”

On Feb. 24 in this forum, we criticized those House Republicans who continue to exempt their Capitol offices from a smoking ban in state buildings.

Their arrogant insistence on smoking in the building adorned by some of Missouri’s premier artwork, including the Thomas Hart Benton murals, is ample evidence they don’t deserve an office within the Capitol, let alone a voice in the building’s use.

Self-interest above stewardship for a public treasure is no recommendation for increased responsibility.