Florida House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders (D-Key West) is requesting an investigation into how a controversial $50-milllion courthouse in Tallahassee, nicknamed the “Taj Mahal” was approved for funding by the State of Florida and in light of District Court Judge Paul Hawkes abrupt resignation yesterday.
Hawkes submitted his resignation on Wednesday from the First District Court of Appeal in an apparent attempt to avoid facing a trial based on his role in aggressively lobbying state legislators for funding of the First District Court’s lavish facility that features an ornate dome, mahogany and granite interiors, a fitness center, individual kitchens and 60-inch flat-screen televisions for Judge Hawkes and his 14 district court colleagues.
In a letter to House Appropriations Chair Denise Grimsley, Thursday, Saunders requested that Appropriations Committee staff investigate and report back on how the courthouse received state funding approval.
“I am concerned that as we enter a legislative session where budget cuts will be considered that could cause great harm to needy infants and senior citizens, it remains unclear how this lavish facility got approved for funding,” Saunders wrote in his letter to Grimsley.
Saunders added: “I believe that it is important that taxpayers and legislators know the true and complete history of this example of wasteful spending to ensure that such a budget travesty will not occur again and that tax dollars are spent wisely and transparently.”
Saunders currently serves as Minority Leader in Florida House of Representatives, and serves House District 120. He is a member of the Appropriations Committee and chaired the committee during his 1991-92 term.
