Our Opinion: Urgent needs, optimum timing for building repairs

To preserve and maintain our state Capitol building, lawmakers must follow authorization with action.

The need for repairs was illustrated during a tour Monday arranged by Gov. Jay Nixon and attended by staff, legislators and journalists.

Earlier this year, the Legislature authorized up to $400 million in bonds for repairs and renovation of state buildings, including the Capitol, and an additional $200 million for similar work at state colleges and universities. With the exception of one university building project, however, specific projects financed by bonds were not included in the budget.

The Capitol event was another in a series of tours of state facilities designed by Nixon to heighten public awareness about the severity of structural building concerns.

"Each day that water continues to seep into damaged stone work is another day that this iconic building weakens," Nixon said at the Capitol, "and each day we fail to address these issues, we add to the cost of fixing them."

Among Republican lawmakers who accompanied the Democratic governor was Sen. Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City, who referred to the Capitol as the "people's building" and correctly observed its upkeep "is not a partisan issue."

Amplifying bipartisan sentiment was Senate Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, who said: "We've got water infiltration that's undermining the foundation of the building and it's going to cave in upon itself if something's not done in the not-too-distant future."

Nixon said the combination of legislative authorization, low interest rates and the state's AAA credit rating results in "the most cost-effective time that we can make these long-term investments."

We appreciate the Legislature's frugality and caution when it comes to taking on public debt.

But urgent needs and optimum timing must prompt Missourians to encourage lawmakers to approve what they already have authorized.

Further delay only invites escalating costs, and risks irreparable damage.