Hmmmm. They approved this just AFTER the election---------Michigan Senate moving forward with plans to spend up to $70M on new office space

Michigan Senate moving forward with plans to spend up to $70M on new office space | MLive.com

LANSING, MI -- The Michigan Senate is moving forward with plans to move out of the aging Farnum Building and into a newer, larger building in downtown Lansing.

The pending move -- and associated price tag -- has been the subject of increased scrutiny in recent weeks, as lawmakers look to plug a looming budget shortfall by cutting funding for various state departments.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said Tuesday that he is personally in favor of the move but noted that the process was started by former Sen. Randy Richardville, who was term-limited out of office.

"It's already a signed contract. The bonds have already been let and we are moving forward with the office change," Meekhof told reporters on Tuesday.

The Michigan Strategic Fund in November authorized up to $70 million in bonding to cover the $51 million purchase price of the Capitol View Building, located at 201 Townsend Street, along with any other unanticipated costs.