The Washington Post Democracy Dies in Darkness <p> Arkansas governor's $19,000 lectern remains out of sight, but not out of mind with audit underway

Washington Post ^ | 10/28/23 | Andrew Demillo | AP

[DallasBiff]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — From targeting Chinese-owned farmland to banning gender-neutral terms like “pregnant people” from state documents, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has rolled out announcements in recent weeks in quick succession, cheered on by her Republican base.

Washington — has also fielded questions from behind a lectern at the state Capitol. But it’s the lectern she’s not using — a $19,000 purchase that’s led to an audit and claims her office illegally altered public records — that remains a problem for the first-term governor.

That lectern hasn’t been seen at Sanders’ public events, and the governor’s office won’t say where it is. But questions about its cost and how its purchase was handled haven’t gone away so easily.

[kiryandil]

"The Hamas Post"

[kiryandil]

[pburiak]

I remember hearing a story that the “$25,000 toilets” and “$1,000 hammers” were just ways they tried to hide the costs for Black Ops/Area 51 type projects by burying large dollar amounts spread across smaller items.
Not sure how true that was but it was an interesting theory.

[Brandonmark]

But a $1.7 million dollar toilet in California is ok? https://www.forbes.com/sites/adammillsap/2022/10/25/californias-17-million-toilet-is-why-we-cant-have-nice-things/?sh=7dcfcab13c05

[LeoTDB69]

LOL. It was built with one of the governments $20,000 hammers I bet.

As media, let the auditors do their job and try to focus on more immediate concerns.

[stinkerpot65]

Democrat Kiddie Rapers hate her policies. So she is a target.

And gutless Republicans say nothing.

[lurk]

We have to see the design to be able to comment, but custom woodwork ain’t cheap.

Nobody is asking the question of who approved the project. Sanders probably didn’t.

[Liaison]

I lived in an HOA run condominium complex in Colorado and the jerks who ran it 20 years ago spent $8k on a carved rock sign for the main road into the complex. Inflation would be $14k today. So $19k for a professionally made podium from a reputable cabinet maker and the cost for a new state seal, carved wood or forged metal, is likely about right.

[cyclotic]

Last year we did a large trade show where I was scheduled to make several technical presentations.

They had our contractor make me a workbench out of 3/4” plywood.

It’s a great workbench that we used for two days. It cost $6,000.

Comparatively, $19,000 for a custom designed lectern that’s likely to be used for decades is a pretty good deal.

Keep in mind that it may also have ballistic plates in it.

[ifinnegan]

I was wondering when they were going to go after her.

[beef]

So, this is their new strategy. Take something minor, like fudging numbers on a loan application, something that millions have done, and make a major case about it. Just stop prosecuting actual violent crimes and pour the budgets into political prosecutions. This is just disgusting. I don’t know what to do about it. Enacting “reforms” would just be rearranging the deck chairs. I have to wonder if the USA in it’s current form is worth saving.

[XRdsRev]

““$25,000 toilets” and “$1,000 hammers” were just ways they tried to hide the costs”

If you are buying a custom sized toilet seat that has to designed to fit a certain space on a warship or submarine, that has to be fully designed and with a limited production run of maybe a hundred or so, yes it is going to cost you big dollars. The same for the hammer which may have the nomenclature of “hammer” but probably was a very limited production custom tool for a specific function.

[itsahoot]

And gutless Republicans say nothing.

They are not gutless republicans, they are undercover democrats, running in conservative districts where they couldn't possibly get elected running as demoncrats.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

My guess is that a lot of the cost was for the casting or milling on the State of Arkansas emblem on the front, but don’t know enough to say for sure. (Did she sign the requisition or was it some state purchasing agent?

Does it have bullet proof cladding on the inside? Some electrical components that we do not see? Looks like it can be move up and down. More cost.

[SunkenCiv]

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• [AP DNC Shill] The Washington Post Democracy Dies in Darkness · Arkansas governor's $19,000 lectern remains out of sight, but not out of mind with audit underway [10/28/2023]

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[OldMissileer]

If you are buying a custom sized toilet seat that has to designed to fit a certain space on a warship or submarine, that has to be fully designed and with a limited production run of maybe a hundred or so, yes it is going to cost you big dollars.

Yep. It was for an Air Force cargo aircraft and it was out of production so a contract had to include the process of recreating the design for the specialty seats and the fact it was going to be a limited production run.

In the end the Air Force was able to create a design in-house and 3D print the seats for around $300 - $400 each.

[DouglasKC]

Even if it was 19,000 dollars what do they think she’s doing with it? Do they think she’s renting it out?