cnn.com:
Newly-minted Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, like many freshman members of Congress, is trying to get settled in before the new session begins. That means quickly getting assigned an office and finding a place to live when in Washington.
To defray costs on housing in DC, some lawmakers choose to room together and split rent. Others find small, basement apartments. Low-end spaces in D.C. run about $1,400 per month.
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Being from Utah, I know about this guy. He can well afford housing in Washington, DC (he's a former high-level manager for Nu Skin International and chief-of-staff for Governor Jon Huntsman . . . those are NOT a low-paying jobs . . . and the sole owner of a corporate communications company). The cot-in-the-office thing is a publicity stunt. Sad.
You mean a guy who donated $9,943 to his own campaign can affoard a DC apartment. Shocking!
That was a neat political stunt too. He was running in an area that would vote Republican regardless who that Republican might be.
I have never understood why states don't provide their representatives to Washington a living expenses stipend. At the very least, a hotel room and travel expenses back to the district, negotiated at priceline.com.
Hey rethugliklans, catch a clue: If you find it hard to maintain your real home back where you were elected plus an apartment in DC when you have an income of over 160,000 dollars imagine how hard it is for a family with an income of less than 50,000 dollars to maintain just one household.
Mayb you were living too high on the hog to grasp the plight of the average American family. Hope your cot has lumps.
Exactly my thoughts. And I'm supposed to feel what for this guy? Perhaps if he can't afford an apartment he needs to find a part time job.
Yeah, because congressmen with "part time jobs" are immune from any unethical behavior. Are you kidding me!?!?! That is opening the door for bribes, kickbacks, and conflicts of interest all over the place
I am old enough to remember why congress was giving themselves one or two raises a year. They claim they had to maintain 2 households. Home state and D.C.. Those working as chairman on committees receive more money as well as the many years they are reelected. Therefore, if they live in their office pay rent or reduce the salary for the rent being paid.
The tax payers are paying them to maintain two households. Not one and a free office with cot.
Hey , there'll be a lot more people sleeping in the cabinets of their relatives and on their sofas of their friends as the foreclosures roll in.and jobs leak away.
Its a shame the federal buidings these citizens have paid for can't be used to keep them warm and dry
when the friends and relatives wear out or are dispossessed themselves.
Not to mention the skyrocketing number of people sleeping on the street.
We all laughed at Palin and her wild spending to look like Cindy McCain's wardrobe was also in her suitcase as she had an ego to fill the VP nomination so she spent a whole lot on everyone in her family but most for her and hubby. But the reality is when we elect these people to Congress who have not had family money nor even a long and successful career before getting elected and they are poor. They might have been middle class atsome point or not but to take tie off to run for office on other people's money while paying for yourself to live drains the bucks. More now than ever regulations speak to and limit what is done when the election is settled and the newly elected must move to DC. Folks DC costs like other huge cities cost to live plus some because the small area is not full of small cheap places for these people. Some might see money signs when these guys are voted in but they go with what they have and have to live with that. No funds are there for the place to live just like when we get new jobs in a new town.
She's worth at least a million. (your comment is written in Palin-speak)
My understanding was that Congress had already passed a rule prohibiting congressmen form living in their offices. This was in response to Dick Armey doing that, in the 80's I believe.
He needs to pony up some money and find a decent place. Times are tough for everyone yet we are trying to make do. His office will start stinking after a while besides that camp bed does not look too good. He should talk to the average family with 2 or more kids in preschool with a combined income of under $80,000.00 in the Washington area.
This is an ongoing problem and when lawmakers have to worry about money as they attempt to maintain two households with at least one of them in one of the most expensive places in the world, it can put them in compromising positions and that doesn't serve them or us. Why don't we just build them a dormitory? It seems to me that we'd all be better served if our lawmakers had at least basic, clean---but not extravagant, living quarters, i.e. one moderately sized room with bath. It might also serve us in that they'd get to know each other as people and thus have to get along a bit better between parties. Number one rule, no loud music or parties and no segregation by party. Mix 'em up. It could be a real money saver for the tax payers if they had to learn to get along.
I love this idea but it comes with other hazards.
Say somebody wants to take out one of our legislative branches?
Got a bunch of sitting ducks now don'tcha?
They'd need security. Other than that.....I say sure. Let em live like they do in the military. It's rather fitting. They can have the same type retirement and medical too.
Regarding security, you make a very good point.
How about buying up various run down flats around the city of Washington. It would provide work to local residents, employed to fix them up. It would improve the security of the people who live nearby, also employing more people by adding to security details. It would give a lot of congress people a close up look at how the working poor live. A little dose of reality never hurt anyone.
Build them a "dormitory"???? How about skipping the euphemisms and build a prison???
Actually, this notion of living in one's Capitol office is troubling.
Maybe a better option is to build a more extensive rapid light rail system, so Legislators could live further away in distance but be closer in terms of time.
What's new about congresspersons sleeping in the Capitol? Considering the legislation they've passed, some of them have been developing instant narcolepsy the second they step on the floor. That is *if* they bother to show up.
THIS STUNT Won't last a month. In most places it's against laws to live in office,,,,,He will get sick of the same place all the time and realize he can't host guests etc,,,,listen to music, get out of bed for a walk around .......Maybe if all members had to live in same building nearby ,perhaps the return rate would drop off for those used to cushy lives back home,,,,
I do not get it!
Incompetent Executives on Wall Street are paid $10's to $100's of millions to Scheme and Destroy our Economy and our Congressmen and Congresswomen have a hard time finding living arrangements in Wahington.
We must limit Wall Street FEES and INCOMES and restore a balance so Wall Street can not use their EXCESSIVE Financial Resources to corrupt Washington!
Jeez! It's tough at the top, what public representatives have to endure for our sakes beggars belief.
Washington is obsolete, anyway. Plenty of opportunity for corruptive influences and to forget who you are there to represent in that town.
Have 'em all stay home, and debate by video conferencing and carry out all side-bargaining over the web...and on the record.
Then when the lobbyists from API or Exxon started visiting your Congress person every day - and arriving in two cars but leaving in one - your buddy at the newspaper stand or the gal at the restaurant across the street would see it and tell you - and you could walk over and kick his or her a...in person.
No, low end places in nice DC areas run $1,400 a month ... I am sure these congressmen could find a reasonable location with 1.5 hours of the city for well under that.
Also some look at this as frugal, I look at this as a crime and an unfair perk. If all Federal Employees had the right to live in their office then that would be one thing, but this is an abuse of the system, and it is basically stealing of the peoples office by these congressmen. Disgusting.
Something tells me you might complain no matter what.
Your right, I probably would complain no matter what, because these corrupt congressmen (and women) would find a way to ensure that they were above everyone else.
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First Posted: 11-22-08 12:37 PM | Updated: 12-23-08 05:12 AM