Culture Shock on Capitol Hill: House to Work 5 Days a Week

[Jon8503]

By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 6, 2006; Page A01

Forget the minimum wage. Or outsourcing jobs overseas. The labor issue most on the minds of members of Congress yesterday was their own: They will have to work five days a week starting in January.

The horror.

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, flanked by fellow House leaders Rahm Emanuel and Nancy Pelosi, says Democrats are trying to repair the image of Congress. (By Caleb Jones -- Associated Press)

Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. ET
Post Politics Hour
Washington Post Congressional reporter Charles Babington discusses the latest buzz in Washington and The Post's coverage of political news.

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, the Maryland Democrat who will become House majority leader and is writing the schedule for the next Congress, said members should expect longer hours than the brief week they have grown accustomed to.

"I have bad news for you," Hoyer told reporters. "Those trips you had planned in January, forget 'em. We will be working almost every day in January, starting with the 4th."

The reporters groaned. "I know, it's awful, isn't it?" Hoyer empathized.


----------------Get this comment from a republican:

"Keeping us up here eats away at families," said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays. "Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says."

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rest of article @ link below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/05/AR2006120501342.html

[kwassa]

1. I laughed when I saw that headline this morning

the article does point out the many weeks off that are probably not affected yet.

[Skidmore]

2. Perhaps Kingston should quit his job and find one that doesn't involve

living in another city during the work week.

[ClassWarrior]

3. So screwing lobbyist-paid hookers helps keep families together?

:eyes:

NGU.

[Target_For_Exterm]

6. Psst. He might be one of those that emails pages, instead.

:evilgrin:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. If it is so tough on you, Jack, don't come to congress.

We won't miss you.

What part of "public" servant don't you understand, you idiot?

[bluerum]

5. Jack Kingston needs to resign so he can spend more time with his family. nt

[hobbit709]

7. I wonder how many working Americans

would LOVE to have a job that pays 150+K/year and a two day work week.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Congress spends so much more time fund-raising now...

THAT's what they're doing when they should be on Capitol Hill.

A huge percentage fly home every 'weekend' to do this.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whistle]

10. What ever happened to the 75 to 80 hour work week on capital hill?

:sarcasm: