P.E.T.A. won't let people walk on the carpet because if might injure the dust mites.
Posted on 02/08/2003 9:20:55 AM PST by FourPeas
Lawmakers ban visitors from House floor to protect carpet Friday, February 07, 2003By Steven Harmon
For 13 years, teacher Rich Cox has taken his fourth-graders to the state Capitol every year, sometimes giving his kids a thrill with a tour of the House chambers. But student groups and others have apparently worn out their welcome in the House chamber. Under a new House rule, Cox's students and other guests of lawmakers are forbidden from visiting the chamber's floor. The rule, adopted unanimously earlier this year, is intended to protect the carpet from the wear and tear it has sustained since it was laid in 1990 in the latter stages of the Capitol restoration. With some exceptions, like Wednesday's State of the State address, visitors are now restricted to viewing the chambers from the gallery above. For Cox, who teaches at Crestview Baptist Elementary in northeast Grand Rapids, it is unthinkable to keep students and other groups off the floor just to protect a carpet. "A carpet can be replaced," he said. "That defies logic." About 300,000 people visit the Capitol a year, though only a small fraction visit the House and Senate floors. Still, the carpet is "past time for replacement," though it would be too costly to replace in a time of budget cutbacks, House Clerk Gary Randall said. Installation of a new carpet would cost about $200,000, double the original cost 13 years ago, Randall said. Aside from the wear and tear, it is a matter of respecting the chambers, said Matt Resch, spokesman for Speaker Rick Johnson, R-LeRoy. "The speaker implemented the rules to ensure decorum and respect for the chamber," he said. "He wants to set a tone of respect for the building. We had instances of groups coming in (that) didn't necessarily show respect due to the room." The idea of decorum smacks of elitism, said Rep. Bill Van Regenmorter, R-Georgetown Twp. He said he hadn't seen the details of the rule when it was approved by a voice vote as part of the overall House rule package on the opening day of session last month. "It is supposed to be the people's building," Van Regenmorter said. "I've always enjoyed taking school classes on the floor. It gives them a sense of being there. I'd prefer that we be able to do that. The gallery isn't the same as the see FLOOR, A4 CONTINUED FROM A1 floor." The Senate allows floor access to visitors a half hour before or after session, as long as they are accompanied by senators, according to an official in the Senate Secretary's office. The closest experience visitors will now get to the House floor is to visit one of the "student orientation" rooms on the first floor of the Capitol, where they can look at one of four original lawmakers' desks that were replaced last summer. "A member who wants to show what their desk looks like can go and do that in the education facility," Resch said. Rep. James Koetje, R-Walker, called it a "rule of necessity, unfortunately. The House chambers are getting beat up a little, showing its age. We're trying to preserve it." The alternative would be to replace the carpet, which is not an option in tough economic times, Koetje said. "Hopefully in good times, we'll be able to scrounge up the money to make repairs that should be made," he said. "The speaker and floor leader have done the right thing to make sure the House can maintain its usefulness and function for the people's business." On the House floor, Cox, the school teacher, said students "had a more up-close look at things, they weren't just told about the yes/no buttons on the legislators' desks, they could actually see how it works. Some kids actually had a chance to sit in a representative's desk. That was cool for them." Resch said visitors can "get a good feel of what's going on by watching from the balcony."
The Grand Rapids Press
Simple:
Put a box at the entrance witha sign reading:
"Quarters for carpet, your donation appreciated."
If everyone gives a quarter the carpet is paid for in less then three years.
Of course, the Liberals would say that there are some who cannot afford a quarter and that is discrimination against the poor, all people should have equal access...yadda yadda yadda.
P.E.T.A. won't let people walk on the carpet because if might injure the dust mites.
I gots lots of questions...but just one answer....elitism!!!
You got to know I know flooring....I always spell Mill with a captital M.
Not to mention that WE, the people, paid for their precious carpet. As a resident of MI who helped PAY for their cushy digs, I'm really steamed right now.
I smell a FReep coming on.
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