General Discussion

dballance

(5,756 posts)

27. Why don't we have a dorm for them?

Reply to proud2BlibKansan (Original post)

Wed Dec 26, 2012, 08:47 PM

Dec 2012

DC is not a cheap city in which to live. I would have no problem at all if we had a dorm in which our legislators were required to live. They would need to pay some basic rent of course. Their salaries and benefits are quite generous.

But seriously, we send all these people to one of the most expensive cities in the nation to live as our representatives. Sure it would be a bit of preferential treatment but I'd rather they be able to focus on governing rather than where they will sleep at night.

A dorm for them could be the spartan accommodation I had in college. A concrete block building with just the barest of necessities. A shared room and shared bathrooms. I'm not advocating putting them up at the Hilton. I'm just advocating we realize DC is an expensive city and we should realize that and make appropriate accommodations for the congress critters. As a contract worker I used to get an uplift in my pay when I worked in cities like NY or Miami because they cost more to live in.

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Members of Congress –mostly male and Republican– sleep in their offices to avoid paying rent [View all] proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 OP

I thought Boehner had cracked down on that? Recursion Dec 2012 #1

politicians stink Bucky Dec 2012 #13

May I suggest a Congressional capsule hotel JHB Dec 2012 #70

Make sure there is space for them to relieve themselves. LiberalFighter Dec 2012 #129

LOL! RavensChick Dec 2012 #143

Odd Flashmann Dec 2012 #2

I find that to be admirable. dawg Dec 2012 #3

And I'm appalled they can't manage their money any better than that. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #4

Indeed. I am... onyourleft Dec 2012 #6

Maintaining two households can be expensive hack89 Dec 2012 #8

And my spouse and I manage one household on less than half what they earn in Congress. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #12

Because your family situation is identical to those 50 congressmen. hack89 Dec 2012 #14

Explain how it IS different, Oh Wise One. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #15

This message was self-deleted by its author hack89 Dec 2012 #16

don't know about you, but most people don't budget for an extra d.c. apartment unblock Dec 2012 #26

see my post: they can go in with other congress members and rent an apt. or they can decline CTyankee Dec 2012 #33

D.C. is VERY expensive. louis-t Dec 2012 #51

I'm only trying to say that running for office is their option and I was offering some CTyankee Dec 2012 #62

So only the wealthy should run for office? spinbaby Dec 2012 #96

wealthy people don't have to pool their resources to rent an apt. with others. CTyankee Dec 2012 #100

Don't forget everything else jp76 Dec 2012 #47

that's ridiculous. they could get a fine three bedroom for that and share with two to four other bettyellen Dec 2012 #48

A 3br in DC for 2 grand a month?? Recursion Dec 2012 #58

no 1,200 is the asking for studios in nice buildings in decent neighborhoods- for newcomers bettyellen Dec 2012 #64

Studios in nice neighborhoods across the river (Arl., Alex.) are more $ than that. spooky3 Dec 2012 #130

As long as staffers can live there too, I'm okay with it. riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #135

Staffers don't have to maintain a second residence in their home districts. spooky3 Dec 2012 #136

as weird as it is for congresscritters to sleep in their offices, it's even most weird, i think, unblock Dec 2012 #65

the pied a terre is actually a common urban scenario in NYC. I've always know people bettyellen Dec 2012 #67

I did this for a while...travelling to NYC for a few days HipChick Dec 2012 #104

agreed that that should not be an expectation - and we all know what happened on C Street. spooky3 Dec 2012 #132

Then they have other sources of income. Sorry, I do not believe that anyone who makes < $90K per spooky3 Dec 2012 #134

What? markbark Dec 2012 #53

like i said, they probably already have a mortgage, etc., back home. unblock Dec 2012 #71

True, but it is likely that they lived in a more expensive house than most of us karynnj Dec 2012 #36

They "could" get together and rent apts and share the rent. CTyankee Dec 2012 #19

I suspect most of them have more than ample funds to do both. Bake Dec 2012 #31

I agree with you Dyedinthewoolliberal Dec 2012 #23

If I'm not mistaken, the govt would pay for their quarters and meals. nt Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #57

They pay for their lodging out of their own salaries. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #86

I don't see anything wrong with it either. kenny blankenship Dec 2012 #20

it's not *frugal*, it's using their employer-provided office as housing to avoid paying rent CreekDog Dec 2012 #28

It's a mis-use of the facility jberryhill Dec 2012 #37

Agree. I suggest all the supporters of this idea inform their... Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2012 #97

I found out that our company rents several rooms by the month Nikia Dec 2012 #140

They're a bunch of cheapskates....the kind that want to get rid of food stamps. Auntie Bush Dec 2012 #109

Those are *my* offices. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #56

Except when you remember they get paid A LOT more than most workers... Barack_America Dec 2012 #69

Are their offices zoned as residential? Tikki Dec 2012 #115

they have no pride. car salespersons. spanone Dec 2012 #120

Every time I see this story I think DURHAM D Dec 2012 #5

I also think that, and have complained about it obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #7

Exactly. onyourleft Dec 2012 #10

Should the President have to pay rent? former9thward Dec 2012 #22

The President Daninmo Dec 2012 #24

Oh you really think that is why we pay his bills? former9thward Dec 2012 #25

that the president is provided a residence for his unique job doesn't make it okay for them CreekDog Dec 2012 #29

Doesn't make it ok? former9thward Dec 2012 #43

Does what make it okay? CreekDog Dec 2012 #59

The poster I was replying to was upset former9thward Dec 2012 #72

you failed because you asked me if what I said makes it okay CreekDog Dec 2012 #73

From your post: "doesn't make it okay for them" former9thward Dec 2012 #75

the way you formulated the question was completely wrong CreekDog Dec 2012 #77

I am not a hypocrite. former9thward Dec 2012 #78

please sober up before continuing this conversation CreekDog Dec 2012 #80

There have been plenty of posters carrying on discussion with me. former9thward Dec 2012 #95

I'm not criticizing their graciousness to you... CreekDog Dec 2012 #98

The Prez is on the job 24/7. Bake Dec 2012 #32

Really? former9thward Dec 2012 #42

Well, since Boehner and the GOP left town... KansDem Dec 2012 #52

This is just ridiculous. former9thward Dec 2012 #60

No they cannot do whatever they want in their offices CreekDog Dec 2012 #99

Because you say so? former9thward Dec 2012 #103

I doubt the Capitol office buildings are zoned "residential" Bake Dec 2012 #108

OMG former9thward Dec 2012 #111

I was being snarky Bake Dec 2012 #112

I don't care where Congressmen live. former9thward Dec 2012 #113

"lifestyle choice"? where have i heard that before? CreekDog Dec 2012 #114

You jump in to answer for other posters. former9thward Dec 2012 #121

The residence is part of the President's compensation. Mariana Dec 2012 #45

Their office is part of their job. former9thward Dec 2012 #49

Then let them pass a law that EVERY employer Mariana Dec 2012 #61

The minute that law was passed you would be screaming. former9thward Dec 2012 #74

keep posting, you haven't turned people in this thread against the president yet CreekDog Dec 2012 #93

I have a stalker! Cool! former9thward Dec 2012 #94

you're a dishonest poster who posts barely vield right wing talking points CreekDog Dec 2012 #117

I am not going to re-argue a post from months ago. former9thward Dec 2012 #122

The President and his family live in the White House for free but that's it. neverforget Dec 2012 #105

My employer provides free housing and food. OneTenthofOnePercent Dec 2012 #40

I have to admit ... rppper Dec 2012 #9

What a bunch of cheapskates. Rex Dec 2012 #11

Win win apb2637 Dec 2012 #17

How do you figure that? proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #18

They aren't saving any money for tax payers.... Only for themselves... hlthe2b Dec 2012 #21

Why don't we have a dorm for them? dballance Dec 2012 #27

Um, where would they have their "extracurricular" activities? CTyankee Dec 2012 #35

They could accomplish much the same thing on their own Mariana Dec 2012 #46

They used to. Gingrich sold it (nt) Recursion Dec 2012 #55

We the tax payers Politicalboi Dec 2012 #30

Yeah Proud Liberal Dem Dec 2012 #34

In a perfect world this would teach them something about what it's like Raine Dec 2012 #38

Rep. Steve Chabot (R- Ohio) No Vested Interest Dec 2012 #39

story from 2007 abt 4 Dems living in a house. shireen Dec 2012 #41

What I don't like is that it isolates them from making personal connections with their colleagues riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #44

Yep. More to it than trying to save money. GoCubsGo Dec 2012 #66

Go to Tortilla Coast on 1st & D St. SE around 8:00 PM on a day the House is in session Freddie Stubbs Dec 2012 #91

My sympathy ends with people who make even 1 more dollar than I do. nt Comrade_McKenzie Dec 2012 #50

"Yet doe I feare thy Nature, It is too full o' th' Milke of humane kindnesse." guardian Dec 2012 #85

Why do they even have to come to DC? KansDem Dec 2012 #54

I don't understand why anyone has Jenoch Dec 2012 #63

It pisses me off. Our tax dollars provide them... Little Star Dec 2012 #68

Where do their staff stay? JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2012 #76

That's a good point - the office is owned by the taxpayers. So why can't the staff sleep there? riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #79

Congressional staffers Jenoch Dec 2012 #107

So you don't think ANY staffers might not want to live for free at their workplace? riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #118

If they can't afford rent on $165,000 a year, shame on them. appleannie1 Dec 2012 #81

My thoughts exactly. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #87

The problem is that they are already maintaining residence in their state as well Freddie Stubbs Dec 2012 #90

I wonder if the same Jenoch Dec 2012 #82

I would feel the same. No one should be using their tax paid office as a bedroom..... Little Star Dec 2012 #84

This applies across party lines for me. nt riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #89

Female Congress critters must manage their money better. They can afford apartments. appleannie1 Dec 2012 #83

sleep in their offices to avoid paying rent Flashmann Dec 2012 #88

And I should care about this why? sellitman Dec 2012 #92

You don't mind paying their room and board? proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #102

If they had their own apartment sellitman Dec 2012 #138

They're using utilities that wouldn't be used if no one lived in the office. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #141

OMG! sellitman Dec 2012 #142

I would give them the "Hilton" shintao Dec 2012 #101

This is not austerity. This is double dipping again. BlueToTheBone Dec 2012 #106

Spam deleted by bluesbassman (MIR Team) Thedemdragon Dec 2012 #110

Interesting regurgitation of a year old story.... whistler162 Dec 2012 #116

thanks for the link - it's interesting and answers some qs raised in this thread spooky3 Dec 2012 #139

I wouldn't pay money to rent an apartment either. Why waste the money when the offices are plenty RB TexLa Dec 2012 #119

So I presume you'd be okay with their staffers sleeping there too? Plenty big enough. riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #123

Considering the starting pay for congressional staffers most make the move to DC permanent RB TexLa Dec 2012 #124

Do you have a link for Congressional staffers living in their offices? riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #125

No I don't. It's not a concern of mine. RB TexLa Dec 2012 #126

Then why make an unsubstantiated claim that staffers live there too? riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #127

Good Lord, I know because I know people who have done it. I don't have a link for any of the RB TexLa Dec 2012 #128

Unless you come up with a link, I don't believe it. riderinthestorm Dec 2012 #131

Good for you. No way to give a shit what you believe RB TexLa Dec 2012 #133

Call the Fire Inspector an office isn't a place for overnight accomodations..... Historic NY Dec 2012 #137