sure they do.. that is why all the money is missing for the memorial
so far.. 26 to 28 million for staff... and 62 million for "art" ,.. and no monument...
in my humble opinion,.. it is time to stop funding and building monuments..
Lawmakers to Ask Where $62 Million Went for Unbuilt Ike Memorial
Congress passed a law authorizing a memorial for Ike back in 1999. But it took 10 years—following a closed competition for designs—to announce the memorial's architect would be the world-renowned Frank Gehry, who designed the famed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, as well as the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millenium Park.
A year later, Gehry's design was released to the public: a memorial made of giant columns and tapestries and including a barefoot young Ike near the center.
Since then, things have quickly unraveled. The family decried Gehry's design, with granddaughter Susan Eisenhower telling the Washingtonian Magazine it looked "like a theme park." The National Civic Art Societybegan asking architects to submit alternate designs to Gehry's. The House Oversight Committee chairman Darrel Issa, R-Calif., said he had questions about the closed process by which Gehry was chosen. And a group of historians, architects and concerned citizens formed to oppose the memorial, calling themselves "Right by Ike."
"this process has become more about the famous architect and having a Gehry piece in Washington, D.C., than the legacy of Eisenhower."
Now, with the seven-year time limit up to build the memorial.
"Before we provide additional funding, we need an accurate and full account where funds have been appropriated,"
"We don't have an accurate account of how $62 million was spent."
the Eisenhower Memorial Committee was given $62 million in taxpayer dollars for construction and design of the memorial, as well as $2 million a year since 1999 for staff salaries. The committee declined to comment for this story.
so far.. 26 to 28 million for staff... and 62 million for "art" ,.. and no monument...
in my humble opinion,.. it is time to stop funding and building monuments..