Congress Challenges New Court House Proposals

Congress is taking judges and the General Services Administration to task for proposals to build more federal courthouses. A new Government Accountability Office report questions 10 out of 12 planned construction projects. Auditors say there should be a moratorium until the judiciary puts the plans through a rigorous evaluation process. The judiciary says the construction will cost $1 billion. GAO said that's not true. With future rent, the cost will be at least three times that amount. House Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) suggests fancy courthouses aren't necessary. He says administering justice could be done in a warehouse with two milk crates and a two-by-four.