The S.C. House of Representatives is planning to spend $2 million in the upcoming budget on new furniture for its members’ downtown Columbia, S.C. offices. In fact House members spent last week viewing “furniture options and fabric” for their new desks, chairs, credenzas and sofas, according to a memo obtained exclusively by FITS.
“Some members are not happy about spending (this) money,” one source familiar with the purchase tells us.
We don’t blame them. This sort of thing never looks good, even if there’s a legitimate need.
According to the memo, the furniture currently being used by House members – purchased in 1979 – has seen better days. The memo adds that “credenzas have fallen and continue to create a safety hazard.”
Wait … is that before or after S.C. Rep. Chip Limehouse sat on the credenzas in question?
Look, we’re not going to knee-jerk criticize this proposed expenditure (the legislative branch is a core function of government and having chairs and desks that work would seem an appropriate expenditure in pursuit of that function). But $2 million strikes us as a bit excessive. Also, we find it hard to believe that 34-year-old furniture is falling apart with sufficient frequency so as to create a “safety hazard” – requiring all of this furniture to be replaced.
We would encourage the S.C. House to revisit this expense …
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47 comments
Of course, if this happens then the legislators will be fighting over which items of the old, decrepit furniture they can take home with them. A real “safety hazard” that will be!
Of course, if this happens then the legislators will be fighting over which items of the old, decrepit furniture they can take home with them. A real “safety hazard” that will be!
The least they could do is gold flake some of the new chairs/thrones and make the new credenzas & desks of alabaster in keeping with history.
Also, the Egyptian version of fainting couches may be needed to replace the ones already there. Of course, they will have to hire Lindsey’s Jamaican help staff to hand feed the grapes to those using them….so in that context $2 mil may be a little shy.
It’s only taxpayer money, why skimp?
“credenzas have fallen and continue to create a safety hazard”
well, if they fucked their visitors on the floor it would be safer
however they need to be extra careful, don’t want to squash any of their cockroach relatives scurrying around on the floor
lol – that’s what i was thinking. We know they actually do any work in Columbia – except for screwing over all of SC – and most of SC just bends over and takes it – no furniture needed!
The least they could do is gold flake some of the new chairs/thrones and make the new credenzas & desks of alabaster in keeping with history.
Also, the Egyptian version of fainting couches may be needed to replace the ones already there. Of course, they will have to hire Lindsey’s Jamaican help staff to hand feed the grapes to those using them….so in that context $2 mil may be a little shy.
It’s only taxpayer money, why skimp?
“credenzas have fallen and continue to create a safety hazard”
well, if they fucked their visitors on the floor it would be safer
however they need to be extra careful, don’t want to squash any of their cockroach relatives scurrying around on the floor
lol – that’s what i was thinking. We know they actually do any work in Columbia – except for screwing over all of SC – and most of SC just bends over and takes it – no furniture needed!
174 legislators. Add 50 for receptionists and another 50 for committee staff, and the cost comes to about $7,300 per office. A little high perhaps, but quality furniture that will last another 30 years is more expensive than the crap at the local office warehouse (some assembly required).
And keep in mind we are talking a desk, credenza, office chair, two guest chairs, probably a bookcase and matching file cabinet, plus accessories like a lamp. A good desk and credenza is going to cost $5,000 delivered.
I just question whether this is the highest and best use of this money at this time.
174 legislators. Add 50 for receptionists and another 50 for committee staff, and the cost comes to about $7,300 per office. A little high perhaps, but quality furniture that will last another 30 years is more expensive than the crap at the local office warehouse (some assembly required).
And keep in mind we are talking a desk, credenza, office chair, two guest chairs, probably a bookcase and matching file cabinet, plus accessories like a lamp. A good desk and credenza is going to cost $5,000 delivered.
I just question whether this is the highest and best use of this money at this time.
$2 million doesn’t strike me as much for approriate office furniture that comes with a 10 year warranty. We aren’t talking about the $100 office chairs that you find at Office Max which fall apart inside of 18 months. Given that the State uses furniture well past its depreciable life (34 years… WTH?) I’d say it is money well spent.
$2 million doesn’t strike me as much for approriate office furniture that comes with a 10 year warranty. We aren’t talking about the $100 office chairs that you find at Office Max which fall apart inside of 18 months. Given that the State uses furniture well past its depreciable life (34 years… WTH?) I’d say it is money well spent.
The furniture should be fixed, as should all the male members of the House.
Oh, and the Senate, too. Maybe they can get a group discount.
The furniture should be fixed, as should all the male members of the House.
Oh, and the Senate, too. Maybe they can get a group discount.
Well, they’re only in session half the year so in essence their furniture is only 17 years old!
Well, they’re only in session half the year so in essence their furniture is only 17 years old!
FITS must be buying its furniture at Walmart, because office furniture is expensive. I bought 12 cubicles a few years back, nothing outlandish, but it cost me more than $50k. 2 million seems like a steal.
FITS must be buying its furniture at Walmart, because office furniture is expensive. I bought 12 cubicles a few years back, nothing outlandish, but it cost me more than $50k. 2 million seems like a steal.
When I worked for the State, I had a desk, credenza, sofa and chairs purchased in 1968.
They were a little dog eared, we sent to the Dept. of corrections and had them refurbished for a couple of thousand. They came back good as new and were much better constructed than the ne stuff purchased, at much higher costs.
Of course the Budget and Control Bd under Fred Carter, Rick Kelly and Helen Ziegler purchased new stuff (needed or not) every few years.
New computers were a constant expenditure and many offices had so much excess space they could have had personal gyms.
Does CCI still have the furniture restoration program? I’ve had chairs refurbished a few years back – excellent workmanship.
These expenditures are nothing compared to all of the money spent on all of the trips to Germany (Fred Carters Sister State money pit).
The State funds and all of the drinking, carousing, side trips, etc. must have been a real boon to the German and French economies. It was kept quiet and under cover ;-) due to all of the officials and Legislators who were taken along!
Eleanor Kitzman also wasted money on redecorating the 6th floor when Haley anointed her with the Executive Directors job.
If you want to see real waste check out the history od Budget and Control Bd. spending.
When I worked for the State, I had a desk, credenza, sofa and chairs purchased in 1968.
They were a little dog eared, we sent to the Dept. of corrections and had them refurbished for a couple of thousand. They came back good as new and were much better constructed than the ne stuff purchased, at much higher costs.
Of course the Budget and Control Bd under Fred Carter, Rick Kelly and Helen Ziegler purchased new stuff (needed or not) every few years.
New computers were a constant expenditure and many offices had so much excess space they could have had personal gyms.
Does CCI still have the furniture restoration program? I’ve had chairs refurbished a few years back – excellent workmanship.
These expenditures are nothing compared to all of the money spent on all of the trips to Germany (Fred Carters Sister State money pit).
The State funds and all of the drinking, carousing, side trips, etc. must have been a real boon to the German and French economies. It was kept quiet and under cover ;-) due to all of the officials and Legislators who were taken along!
Eleanor Kitzman also wasted money on redecorating the 6th floor when Haley anointed her with the Executive Directors job.
If you want to see real waste check out the history od Budget and Control Bd. spending.
LOL….Wil Folks…….you need to get busier than this. We wonder if they are spending on IT upgrades…?? http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130604/DA6MPFHG2.html maybe some “secret” email accounts will tell you..!?
LOL….Wil Folks…….you need to get busier than this. We wonder if they are spending on IT upgrades…?? http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130604/DA6MPFHG2.html maybe some “secret” email accounts will tell you..!?
Obama WASTEDE $90 Billion on Solyndra, you F*#@in idiot…and all the while, you stood there w/ your head up your @$$…
Solyndra didn’t get $90 billion, they got $535 million. Of course, you’re probably going to pretend companies like Tesla, which paid back its $456 million loan early, don’t exist, right?
Yeah, sure gollly-Gee, Smirks…: I see Teslas all over the place. They are as common as Toyotas…you F*#kin Brain Dead Dolt…
Like everythign leftist, even your “success” stories are myths…
“Mission Accomplished”
Yea Governments do things like that. Remember when Bush sent 12 billion dollars in shrink wrapped $100 bills to Iraq after the invasion and 6.6 billion of them promptly disappeared? Who would have thought that could happen?
Does the budget include a line item for those little hemorrhoid donut tubes? Perhaps few extra to take with them (car, home, dates) ?
Does the budget include a line item for those little hemorrhoid donut tubes? Perhaps few extra to take with them (car, home, dates) ?
It angers me that they can approve funding for that amount of furniture, but not give some constitutional offers — who haven’t received a salary increase or even a cost of living adjustment since the early 90s — a raise so that their salaries are in line with the rest of the country. A commission has found that they should be paid more. Unbelievable. I want to vote every one of these legislators out of office.
Quit: and go into the private sector…
A lot of us are thankful we have a job. We have to JUSTIFY our paycheck. All you have to do is hold your hand out: and the government takes it from us, and hands it to you…so you can produce red tape, and more headaches, for people who actually EARN an income…
How are you and Siri communicating over the den of the mower?
How do you find time to work, I mean between your time constantly posting here and on The State website.
It angers me that they can approve funding for that amount of furniture, but not give some constitutional offers — who haven’t received a salary increase or even a cost of living adjustment since the early 90s — a raise so that their salaries are in line with the rest of the country. A commission has found that they should be paid more. Unbelievable. I want to vote every one of these legislators out of office.
Let’s make sure all the new chairs come standard with 2000 volts.
Let’s make sure all the new chairs come standard with 2000 volts.