Debate Over Moving State Senate Offices

Michigan Senators want to move their offices into a newer building in Lansing, but Democrats in the Michigan House say they’ll try to stop it.

House Democrats say the entire bond-funded move of Senate offices to the Capitol View building on the south side of the Capitol, will cost taxpayers more than $130 million when interest and all other costs are included, far more than the $11 million or so it would cost to restore their existing building nearby.

However contracts have already been signed, and majority Republicans in the senate don’t appear to be interested in trying to tear the contract up.

House Democrat Sam Singh of East Lansing says the deal should still be reviewed and “we break contracts all the time,” when the state can’t afford something.