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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If the article was better researched, it would note that about 30 members of Congress sleep in their offices, not so unique. If the save on housing costs, they can fly home more often, particularly given that they have 3 DAY Work weeks. That's how its done in a DO NOTHING Congress.
Some spouse may think only 3 days per week of sleeping on a couch is nothing. : - )
It is time to return to the 5 day workweek for Congress.
Enough!
Thanks for the eagle eyes, partyofone. Even if the 111th Congress is productive-there are still going to be some 3 day week-ends. Many of the USA's holidays have been moved to Monday so that we'd have 3 day week-ends.
The cost of an air line ticket could limit trips home for frugal congress-people. Politics is an expensive business.
Then there's Norm Coleman, who rented a really nice place in DC for just $500 a month. Most Congressmen are in town just 4 or 5 days a week anyway, then they fly home, so sharing a place is no big deal. It's not really a "home", it's just temporary lodgings.
"Their going to the mattresses Sonny..!"
Surely having junior congressmen so poorly paid as to need to room share merely leaves them vulnerable to bribery and corruption. Read Thomas Paine's pamphlet in defense of the duty officers.
The current salary for Congressmen and Senators is $169,300.
That's poorly paid?
If you really want to be disgusted, check out their pensions!
Remember these guys have to support a family and maintain homes in their districts.
You can't live on $169,300 in some parts of the north east.
Touche.
Oh, yeah. For a three-day workweek, too.
Didn't the repubs do this when they won a majority in Congress in the eighties? Well, they got their so-called Contract With America passed, so it should work for us too.
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First Posted: 11-22-08 12:37 PM | Updated: 12-23-08 05:12 AM