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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNasty or frugal? Key Democrats out to stop House members from living in offices
WASHINGTON -- Members of the House of Representatives who live in their Capitol Hill offices shouldnt get too comfortable.
The practice is going under the knife from the new Democratic leadership. Top Democrats are considering making the live-in lawmakers pay for bunking in prime government real estate or ending the practice altogether.
How would you feel about attending a meeting in someones bedroom? asked Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, a veteran member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which has spoken against the practice for years.
Office-dwellers counter that the practice is frugal and efficient.
My constituents want me to do the job they elected me to do, said Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky. They appreciate frugality too and appreciate the fact Im focused on doing my job and not moving into Washington.
Read more here: https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article224506345.html
greymattermom
(5,754 posts)Maybe they could take over a floor of a dorm and charge the same thing the college students pay. They could even give them a discount for doing some educational discussions with the students.
TheBlackAdder
(28,277 posts).
About that dorm suggestion:
Then, everyone will know who are banging the interns, prostitutes, sheep, or conflict with "Family Values."
.
appleannie1943
(1,303 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,629 posts)Here's one Kentuckian who would prefer Barr and Guthrie live in a box -- with bars on the door and windows.
I keep voting against them but can't get enough others to do the same.
Bayard
(22,288 posts)The only good thing I can say about him is that he has polite office staff when I call in to rail.
Yeah, I keep voting against him too.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,629 posts)Of course, it would be hard to be as bad as McConnell.
Bayard
(22,288 posts)janterry
(4,429 posts)Surely there are other priorities
TexasTowelie
(112,864 posts)Later in the article it states:
brush
(54,005 posts)Response to TexasTowelie (Original post)
Tech This message was self-deleted by its author.
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)and not looking sloppy when I go in, I honestly couldn't care less that they sleep there.
I know their pay sounds very high to most of us but it doesn't go far if you're supporting a family and two residences, especially if one of them is in a high cost area like DC.
That said, having space converted to a bunch of studio dorm or motel room type of space for reps to live while in DC makes absolute sense to me. Perhaps charge them a few hundred a month towards it and maintenance.
TexasTowelie
(112,864 posts)The problem is that they were catching members in robes, pajamas, or partially undressed. No professional office worker or member of the cleaning crew should feel like they are spinning the roulette wheel each time they open a door.
Provide options for studio, one, and two bedroom apartment living spaces that are easily accessible to the Capitol at a subsidized price. They can even offer them a subsidized meal service so they don't have to travel back to the Capitol.
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)work with the cleaning crew, etc so awkward moments would be far less likely to happen. That's what a locked door and a 'do not disturb' sign could be used for.
Of course the best solution IMO would be to make some sort of decent apartment housing available at a very low to no cost (perhaps a sliding scale) for reps. IMO people of all income levels should be able to run for office, win and not have to worry about affording basic housing for themselves and/or spouse/SO or children.
I do see your point as things are set up now but I'm also not at all surprised by people crashing on a couch at a work place. If they worked super late or did a double shift it wasn't that unusual in places I worked in eons ago.
madville
(7,413 posts)Imagine a California House member needing to maintain a residence there and in the DC area. $174,000 after federal and state income taxes, health insurance, FERS contribution, TSP contribution, etc is probably $9,000 take-home a month at best.
They could easily be on the hook for $4,000-5,000 a month just to maintain two residences. Schumer, Durbin and someone else have been roommates in a townhouse most of their careers for this reason.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,938 posts)to live, but lots of people who make a lot less money somehow manage.
They don't need a 4 bedroom home in Alexandria. And efficiency apartment somewhere is the area would be just fine. Or rent an apartment with a roommate or two. Heck, they should all be required to take public transportation to and from the capital. That would be vastly more frugal than maintaining a car, and would put them face to face with how a lot of people there actually live and commute.
sarah FAILIN
(2,857 posts)They could build a large facility far enough away that it wouldn't be prime real estate. Maybe even on one of the bases might have room, but make it available for all elected officials and their staff. It's expensive for everyone.
Luciferous
(6,090 posts)crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)Or even a hotel like setting to make things more 'adult'
MineralMan
(146,364 posts)I would apply to be the Resident Manager, in exchange for free rent.
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