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Their "we would get sued" excuse doesn't fly, unless the Contractor triple charged them up front. After the Storm they'd have seen the writing on the wall, Material prices up, Shipping costs up, local Labor shortages, lodging problems, refuse removal problems etc. The job would end up being a net loss not to mention the bad press after the job is completed, if asked they would have negotiated.

To top it all off the Contractor that won that bid probably won't see any money for awhile, the State is notorious for Sloooooow paying and now they have another excuse to not pay.

It's hard to believe that there are sill a few Americans who do not know that our politicians live literally like royalty. They have free medical service, servants (aides) people to drive them around in limos, fly around in corporate jets, have private cooks, secretaries, and others who answer their every whim, and these are the underlings..

The key to great wealth in America today is to gain high political office. Even village clerks in small hamlets reward themselves generously out of public funds, legally and illegally.

LA city council members pay themselves $150,000 a year for example.

Go into any politicians' office and you will find that the drapes on the windows of his or her office cost more than the furnishing of your entire house. You will find casual chairs in the outer office that cost more than your automobile.

Even minor government workers' have offices that would put to shame the office of the president of a large corporation.

These are called "perks" but they are really plunder.

"Numerous other state capitols are also under renovation right now. That includes a $400-million repair job in Louisiana..."

http://www.wccotv.com

State Capitol Could Get Massive Facelift

Pat Kessler
Reporting

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(WCCO) St. Paul The end of 2005 marks the end of the State Capitol's year-long 100th birthday party. And when the party's over, state leaders want to start working on fixing up the historic landmark.

It is the state's most visible public building -- a spectacular combination of art and architecture built 100 years ago for what seems like a bargain now.

"It took $4.5 million to finally build the building," said Paul Mandell of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. "It took us $5.5 million to replace the roof in 1995."

After years of neglect the marble dome is leaking, there's peeling paint, falling plaster and outdated mechanical systems.

"The building is not zoned in any way, shape or form," Mandell said. "So, you turn on the heat for the whole building or you turn on the air conditioning for the whole building."

There's growing support for a massive restoration project that will close all or part of the Capitol's entire east wing for up to six years.

The $75 million top-to-bottom renovation could include everything from electrical systems to painstaking historical cleaning.

Years of smoked-filled corridors yellowed the Kasota stone walls. A test cleaning shows a startling difference. Historic hand painted murals that once appeared faded and dull suddenly sparkle.

"All of a sudden you see the corn kernels and the corn hairs and the colors of the leaves as opposed to what looked like some kind of a plant, but you couldn't quite tell what," Mandell said.

Architects hope to bring back the original glass and cage elevators that once looked out on the Capitol Mall, and of which, only one photograph is known to exist.

"The intention was to let light into the elevators and into the halls, instead of this metal screen that we've got now," Mandell said.

It could be the most extensive and expensive facelift the Capitol's ever had, but supporters said it must be done to preserve Minnesota's most visible landmark.

"This is our building -- the public's building," Mandell said.

Numerous other state capitols are also under renovation right now. That includes a $400-million repair job in Louisiana and a $287-million restoration in Texas.