Texas House members spend $140K to renovate lounge

While state agencies are being told to rein in their spending, Texas House members have ordered at least $140,000 in renovations for their members-only lounge, including antique chandeliers, granite counter tops and big screen televisions.

According to records, an "estimated budget" for the renovations lists a little over $140,000 in equipment and labor costs so far.

Among the expenditures listed are the two brass chandeliers at $14,500 each; custom wood cabinets with granite counter tops and back-splash at $61,200; a Scotsman Touchfree air-cooled flake ice maker at $3,425; and two Sharp 42-inch LCD TVs at $2,198.

The renovations come as state agencies are cutting expenses at the request of Gov. Rick Perry, who doesn't oversee spending by the Legislature, which operates independently of the executive branch.

"It's the height of hypocrisy for legislators to be out spending money feathering their lounge when everybody else has to cut back," said Tom "Smitty" Smith of the liberal watchdog group Public Citizen. "There's no more classic definition of a private club than that part of our capitol."

The records don't indicate what the final price tag for the renovation will be or who's coordinating the makeover. House Accountant Steve Adrian said "no particular person" initiated the renovation and he didn't foresee the costs exceeding that amount.

One person named in the documents is Nadine Craddick, the wife of GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick. She approved a new sink and oversaw the selection of the granite used for the countertops.

She wrote Adrian Oct. 29 about the possible purchase of a new couch. "This is my favorite," she said in the e-mail containing pictures of three Hancock-Moore sofa designs.

Asked if the e-mail prompted any expenditure, Adrian said: "Nothing has been purchased yet."

The records don't show Nadine Craddick has been paid a salary for her services.

Tom Craddick's spokeswoman, Alexis DeLee, did not return several calls from those seeking comment on Mrs., Craddick’s involvement.

State officials have given conflicting answers about who is coordinating the renovations. This week, Adrian called it a "joint project" between the House and the Texas State Preservation Board.

Last month, DeLee said the project was being coordinated by the House Administration Committee. But the committee chairman's name doesn't appear in the records.