Lawmakers to Miami U.: Aeron Chairs Are Too Expensive

Aeron: The lap of luxury?

The Associated Press reports that Ohio lawmakers have shot down Miami University’s plan to buy more than 300 Aeron chairs at $522 apiece. The ergonomic Aeron chair, manufactured by Herman Miller, is something of a design status symbol. One can hear commercials for the chair on National Public Radio.

“The state Controlling Board voted 6-1 against what normally would be a routine request to the panel of lawmakers, who oversee state spending,” the AP story says. “Board members said Monday they were dissatisfied with the university architect’s explanation for why the chairs were necessary.”

The story also says that one Republican lawmaker reminded his colleagues that they were sitting in $2,000 leather chairs even as they opposed the purchase.