A TPIA request filed by the AP's Jay Root led to the actual pricetag for this year's massive renovation of the members-only lounge in the Texas House: $140,000 in taxpayer dollars. Swanky stuff. Here's the AP:

The records reveal new details about the lounge renovation, which comes at the same time Gov. Rick Perry has asked state agencies to "dial back their spending." It also comes as House GOP members, led by Speaker Tom Craddick, have retired to the Lost Pines Resort and Spa for two days of strategizing with lobbyists paying up to $25,000 each to join in.

In October, Perry wrote agency heads -- but not the Legislature, which operates independently of the executive branch -- that "as stewards of public dollars, we must remain fiscally responsible and continue to put taxpayers first by finding ways to curtail state spending."

The day that order went out, House officials were making plans to buy kitchen appliances and countertops, and over the next few weeks they purchased thousands of dollars worth of equipment and furnishings, such as:

_ Custom wood cabinets with granite countertops and backsplash, $61,200

_ A Scotsman Touchfree air-cooled flake ice maker, $3,425.

_ Sub-zero freezer drawers, $3,517

_ Hatco built-in warming drawers, $2,749

_ Two Sharp 42-inch LCD TVs, $2,198

_ Two undercounter refrigerators, $2,019

_ Stainless Bunn-O-Matic coffee brewer, $600.

The records don't say what the final pricetag will be and who's in charge of the project. An undated "estimated budget" lists a little over $140,000 in equipment and labor costs so far. In written responses to inquiries from the AP, Adrian said officials did not foresee going beyond that.

Unless, perhaps, they need a new couch.

On Oct. 29, Nadine Craddick, the House speaker's wife e-mailed Adrian about the possible purchase of a sofa.

"This is my favorite," she said in the e-mail containing pictures of three Hancock-Moore sofa designs.

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