CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) State Treasurer Mark Gordon has filed a lawsuit over the state Capitol building renovation project, contending that the legislation authorizing the project is unconstitutional because it does not include the state treasurer in awarding construction contracts.

The lawsuit was filed on May 16 in Laramie County District Court against the Capitol Building Rehabilitation and Restoration Oversight Group.

The lawsuit contends that the state treasurer is required by the Wyoming Constitution to approve contracts for any work on the Capitol building.

Article 3, Section 31 of the Wyoming Constitution states that contracts involving expenses for repairing and furnishing the halls and rooms of the Legislature “shall be subject to the approval of the governor and the state treasurer,” the lawsuit said.

The suit seeks an injunction to prohibit the oversight group from entering into any contracts without the treasurer's approval.

Gordon said the lawsuit is not an effort to stop the $300 million Capitol project.

“It's about the authorities of the treasurer's office,” Gordon told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. “All I'm asking are what are my duties under that constitutional provision.”

The project's oversight group includes senior lawmakers as well as Gov. Matt Mead, who is a co-chairman.

David Bush, Mead's spokesman, said the governor's office hasn't seen the lawsuit yet and declined comment.

It is the second lawsuit filed over the project.

Earlier this year, a Casper legislator and a Uinta County man sued Mead and top state lawmakers, saying they violated the state Constitution by issuing no-bid contracts for the renovation work on the Capitol building.

For more information, visit http://www.wyomingnews.com.