Pence defends $873K for new Statehouse security

Update at 10:30 a.m., today.

The State Budget Committee delayed a vote on Gov. Mike Pence’s request to spend $873,000 on Statehouse safety upgrades, including new turnstile security doors.

Committee member Luke Kenley, a Republican state senator from Noblesville, said the plan needs more vetting from the legislative and judicial branches.

Although there won’t be a vote, the committee still plans to discuss the issue later at its meeting today in West Lafayette.

Update at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 12:

The Pence administration said late Wednesday that the $873,000 cost for proposed upgrades to security at the Statehouse includes the cost of a new public announcement system, in addition to new turnstile security doors.

The administration could not provide a breakdown of the various expenses related to the security improvements.

The State Budget Committee will review the request on Friday.

Update at 3:30 p.m., Aug. 12:

Gov. Mike Pence Wednesday afternoon defended plans to install new security doors at the Indiana Statehouse at a cost of $873,000.

“For me it’s about putting public safety first,” he said.

Pence added that he’s asking his budget officials to “sharpen their pencils on any improvements and see if we can do it in the most efficient way for taxpayers.”

Noting that 20,000 schoolchildren have visited the Statehouse over the past six months, Pence said that this proposal and previous safety measures are the result of a 2010 review of security at government buildings, statements from the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., and the urging of lawmakers.

Earlier, Aug. 12:

You might expect turnstiles at a zoo or thrill park — but how about at the Indiana Statehouse?

The Indiana Department of Administration wants to install turnstile security doors at Statehouse entryways.

And the proposal comes with a hefty price tag: $873,000.

The State Budget Committee will consider the request at its meeting Friday. It’s the latest in a string of security enhancements sought by Gov. Mike Pence and state lawmakers.

IDOA Commissioner Jessica Robertson said the new doors will increase safety and help prevent unauthorized access to the Statehouse.

“We recognize people need access into these buildings and we are very cognizant of the delicate balance between access and security,” she said in an emailed statement. “We are pursuing the most effective and efficient solutions to position technology or security personnel at high access points of our campus. Campus safety is a daily concern and we are taking measures to ensure the buildings and the people in them are protected.”

She said the new doors are part of a broader $1.2 million initiative to increase safety at the Statehouse and nearby state government buildings.

The turnstile doors would allow only one person at a time to pass through after swiping their identification badges. They would replace current ID badge entrances where traditional doors allow more than one person to pass through, creating the potential for unauthorized access.

The IDOA did not say how many doorways would be replaced, but Robertson said public entrances and the large wooden doors of some entrances would not be affected.

The plan comes on top of several other recent security upgrades, including an increased State Police presence at entryways and a driveway security gate at the governor’s residence.

Robertson said no tax money was used for the gate at the governor’s residence, but she did not explain who paid for it. She did not answer a question about how much the increased police presence cost.

Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, a member of the State Budget Committee, said he had a lot of questions about the proposal’s impact on public access and aesthetics.

“I hate to make it so hard as to make it problematic to get in there if you’re just a member of the public,” he said. “I don’t know how extensive the system is going to be and whether it would detract from the atmosphere in there.”

For Mark St. John, a lobbyist who frequents the Statehouse, the idea of entering through turnstiles is a bit odd.

“It would make me feel kind of like I’m going to an amusement park,” he said.

Star reporter Chelsea Schneider contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter: @indystartony.