Blame the Trees?

Cost overruns (nearly $200 million so far) for the yet-to-be-completed Capitol Visitor Center will be the focus of February hearings called by Rep. Jack Kingston (R.-Ga.), chairman of a House Appropriations subcommittee. The delays and higher-than-expected cost-the project was supposed to be completed by now for $265 million-are being blamed in part on several trees on the Capitol grounds, according to Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman. When Congress voted to prohibit the removal of trees, including a nearly dead 130-year-old English elm, taxpayers had to pay $2 million for preservation. Meanwhile, there's no firm date set for completion of the center.