The University of Cincinnati campus looks like a giant sandbox crowded with too many Tonka toys. A tangle of fences, backhoes, trucks and tool sheds makes it feel like you really can't get anywhere from here.

Imagine remodeling a 137-acre kitchen and you get the picture. UC is building a garage, a utility plant, classrooms, a genome research center, a student recreation center, dorms and a Varsity Village, among other things.

The price tag is $436.6 million, said UC spokesman Greg Hand.

But wait - here's a coupon for 11 percent off, to save taxpayers $47 million. Too bad Ohio won't use it.

According to a report by the Ohio Legislative Services Commission, Ohio saved an average of 10.7 percent - $487.8 million - by repealing the "prevailing wage'' rule for construction of public schools.

The change caused "no decrease in the quality of construction'' and "little impact on wages,'' the report said.

But a bill to give the same freedom to higher education is lost in Columbus like a law student in a hardhat zone.

Secretary of State Ken Blackwell of Cincinnati says that's because Ohio's House is for sale.

He says prevailing wage is one of several promises broken by Republican leaders, along with concealed carry, tort reform, school vouchers and tax hikes, because the Democrats' money pawns have crossed the chessboard to checkmate the Republican agenda.

Blackwell cites donations to Republican House Speaker Larry Householder and the House Republican Caucus from Democratic Party special interests: The Ohio Education Association teachers union gave $21,000; the Trial Lawyers Association donated $8,500; and tucked among typical Republican donors are unions that hate prevailing wage repeal.

The money amounts are not extra-large, but may be the tip of the iceberg, Blackwell said. Donations to county parties are unlimited and unreported, he said.

Householder offered to reply with "one word you can't put in the paper.'' He said he has worked hard to pass charter schools, tort reforms and other conservative bills. Without enough votes, "it would be a hell of a job'' to pass prevailing wage repeal, he said.

"When it comes to contributions, there's no question I call in all parties and listen to everybody,'' he said. He said the attack is political. "This is all about 2006.''

Householder is a backer of Attorney General Jim Petro - Blackwell's rival for governor in 2006.

It does sound like a campaign blueprint when Blackwell says Householder, Petro and Gov. Bob Taft have turned the Republican Party into "the handmaiden of big unions, greedy trial lawyers and gambling interests.''

But Sen. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, one of the rare red-meat conservatives in Columbus, says it's true. "They all run like Ronald Reagan and then get here and govern like Bob Taft,'' he said. "It's absolutely true that some of the interest groups have co-opted Republicans.''

The Columbus Dispatch reported that last year was the first time the Trial Lawyers gave more money to Republicans ($90,000) than to Democrats ($75,000) in House and Senate races.

The president of OEA told the Dispatch contributions keep Republicans from "doing anything to hurt us."

Like repealing prevailing wage, perhaps.

Maybe it's a myth that Ohio is being remodeled by Republicans. What we have is the best politicians money can buy: "Republi-can'ts."

E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.