Utah congressman "saves" $1500 a month by sleeping in his office

[SoCalDem]

Sorry.. but I doubt that it's zoned for LIVING..:grr:..

If a person has a business and plans to sleep there, they would be FINED..and told to stop it..

If he cannot "afford" to be a congressman, maybe he should have stayed in Utah..

CNN report "praised" him for being frugal, but what if ALL of the congress people decided that THEY too wanted to "save rent money" and camp in their offices?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Actually, that's what I think they should do

Or live in dormitory government housing--and then reduce their salaries to match the median income of the US.

[SoCalDem]

3. I've always liked the idea of a barracks..bare bones living

:)

[NightWatcher]

13. barracks and cafeteria food...sounds good to me

[gratuitous]

15. Mesh screens or heavy duty iron bars?

It's mickle odd to me that someone making more than $150,000 a year plus an expense account has to do this to save $18,000 a year in rent. And if congress critters have to practice these kinds of economies, why aren't they just a little more sensitive to the problems faced by folks living on 20% or less of their salary?

[KamaAina]

55. The food in the House cafeteria is delicious

it's run food-court style. You can't go wrong with the 'Regional American Specialties" station, which could be anything from Louisiana Cajun to good old Midwestern broiled trout.

The Senate, not so much, save for their renowned bean soup.

[Fearless]

69. Then again I wouldn't want to see Teddy Kennedy sleep on a cot.

Somehow I'm sure that's not right.

[bluestateguy]

2. That's so 1990's

Some of Newt Gingrich's freshmen pulled this stunt in 1995-96, and Gingrich seemed to encourage it too. I thought that type of behavior had tapered off.

[SoCalDem]

4. I wonder if he rode his bicycle to DC

:)..with his little bike-buddy

[ellenfl]

5. well, they make more money then i do but then i don't have

to pay for two residences. i have no problem with them living in their offices . . . look what happens when they don't. we get congress critters living with lobbyists or on yachts owned by lobbyists. i gather you would prefer that only rich people be allowed to run for office?

i think gingrich changed the rules so congress critters HAD to stay in dc. considering they have to work in dc all week now (and not just from tuesday thru thursday like the republican-led congress was doing), what would you have them do? can you afford to fly back and forth every weekend if you live in, say, utah?

ellen fl

[SoCalDem]

7. Usually the younger ones share an apartment, like "real people" out in the real world do

It's creepy to think that he's living in his ofice..An occasional late night on the couch is one thing, but to camp there..well that's got to be against some rule:)

[CreekDog]

44. Panetta, George Miller, and Schumer shared a DC townhouse for many years

while they were congressman. as you know, their hometowns are quite pricey (Panetta from Carmel, Miller from Concord, CA and Schumer from Manhattan).

[countingbluecars]

6. I have read somewhere that as many

as 30 sleep in their offices.

[SoCalDem]

8. Grim n/t

[last_texas_dem]

9. Hey, at least it's one less person commuting...

Although I'm sure he hasn't stopped making regular treks by plane back to his district, so, in terms of saving energy, it's really just a drop in the bucket.

[MADem]

10. $1500 a month? What? Who the fuck is he kidding? Is he a loner?

Most of those freshman congressmen live in two bedroom apartments, four to an apartment. No, I'm not joking. They get Lucy and Ricky twin beds and live like college kids. His rent expenses would be, tops, four hundred, and maybe less, and then another hundred or so for the "utes" -- phone, electricity, cable (heat is generally provided). If he didn't want to be so "collegial" he could share an English basement on the Hill with just one other Congressman in his class for a bit more, and walk to work.

These are the odd opportunities where living arrangements can sometimes cross party lines, too. Helps down the road when reaching across the aisle is needed.

The stereotype of Congressmen living in Gary Condit love nests, awaiting young interns, or Denny Hastert town homes (surrounded by buff aides) is not the paradigm. Many live in much more frugal surroundings.

He needs to move out of his office. Sure, people crash overnight all the time if they are working late, that's why there are good sofas in the offices... but that's just creepy.

[Jennicut]

18. Even Chuck Schumer shares an apartment with Dick Durbin and two other guys

Really, can't this congressman find some roommates?

[FloridaJudy]

62. Is he Mormon?

Being from Utah, there's a good chance he is, and those guys should be used to sharing. There are about six of them living in a small two bedroom apartment across from me while they try to convert us heathen. They've given up on me, thank goodness. I think the statue of Quan Yin perched on on doorstep and the huge banner with the Green Tara hanging in my kitchen window have made their point.

[greguganus]

11. There are around 30 congressmen who sleep in their offices when in DC. n/t

[MADem]

23. Do you have a list? I think this information has potential as a news story. NT

[bunnies]

27. It was on the news not that long ago.

Its not a secret.

[MADem]

37. Well, I missed the story. Could you give us a link? NT

[bunnies]

38. Ill try to find one... I only saw it on tv, so... :shrug: nt

[bunnies]

39. Heres an article that lists a few names...

says about 40 sleep in the office.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15761.html

Thats about the time that I saw it on tv, so its not exactly the same but similar.

[Qanisqineq]

35. Yeah, I saw that on 60 Minutes or something

I thought it was a good idea

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. He's probably trying to save the money for the 10% tithe to LDS.

[dysfunctional press]

14. i have absolutely no problem whatsoever with this.

"If a person has a business and plans to sleep there, they would be FINED..and told to stop it.."

what about artists lofts? :shrug:

or mom & pop stores with an apartment upstairs or out back?

or people who tele-commute?

there are plenty of people who live where they work. and plenty of others who feel like they do.

[surrealAmerican]

65. In most places your examples would need to be zoned for ...

... living space. The plumbing, heating, etc. would need to be up to residential code. People who "work from home" live in places that are residential.

[dysfunctional press]

66. there are people who live out of storage lockers where weather permits.

if a congressman wants to live out of his office(and most of their "offices" are generally suites of rooms) it's no skin off my nose.

plenty of other people around the country already do it- and as the economy grinds to a halt, even more will be doing so.

[surrealAmerican]

67. People do live out of storage lockers, but it's not legal.

I agree, that if he wants to live in his office, it's not my problem, but it may well be against the law.

[dysfunctional press]

68. it would surprise me if it was illegal...(not the storage locker thing- i realize that's not kosher)

seeing as other congressionals do it- and aren't they the ones responsible for the laws in d.c.? seems to me that they'd allow themselves the option.

[vanderBeth]

16. I don't see a problem.

If he wants to save money, I never see a problem with that ever with anybody.

Has nobody ever slept on a couch in a office or at school before?

[yellowcanine]

19. There is a difference between spending an occasional night and living in an office full time.

And as I noted, he is saving his own money but he is costing taxpayers more by doing this. Utilities are not "free".

[Orsino]

42. And it calls into question his entire office budget.

How much other money might he be saving that he would otherwise be paying for out of his own pocket?

[yellowcanine]

17. Are other Federal employees allowed to sleep in their offices? No.

So I don't think congress people should either. So instead of him paying his own water and electricity bill as everyone else has to do, the taxpayers pick up the cost? And does he allow his staff to do the same? I doubt it.

[onenote]

43. other federal employees aren't required to maintain a residence outside DC

[yellowcanine]

46. My heart bleeds for those cash strapped congress critters.

:sarcasm:

[shraby]

20. Why don't they have a congressional "housing project"

similar to the housing projects they make for poor people? All congresscritters are required to live in it as long as they are in congress? Build them just like they did Cabrini Green in Chicago. Just as "lavish" and "homey". Charge a percentage of their income for the apartments. Tis only fair.

[Renew Deal]

21. You're very wrong.

"If he cannot "afford" to be a congressman, maybe he should have stayed in Utah."

That comment is incredibly offensive. Congress shouldn't be only for the mega-rich. It's for the person the community chooses. This congress person probably understands living within his means better than most of his peers.

[last_texas_dem]

49. I agree with you there

Due to the low salary paid to many state legislators, only the well-off tend to serve in those bodies- and they certainly don't tend to be particularly progressive bodies. It seems to me that having frugal and/or not necessarily well-off lawmakers is a good thing...

[Lars39]

22. I'd rather have them living in their offices than living with The Family.

:scared:

[Coyote_Bandit]

24. John Sullivan

of Oklahoma ran campaign ads showing him inflating the mattress to sleep in his office.

Reminds me of a guy I went to law school with who decided to live in the library. He used a friends address when necessary, kept a small storage locker near campus, showered in the gym where he kept a locker, ate at the school cafeteria, kept his books in his assigned library carrel, and slept on the floor between the library stacks on couch cushions.

[CRK7376]

25. No Problem!

In fact I do the same thing, although I'm not a Congressman,I'm an Army officer. My family does not live in the same place I'm stationed. No on-post housing for geographic bachelors, I don't want to share an apratment, don't want to have to pay for the house at home and rent a place where I'm stationed. I keep a cot under my desk, a sleeping bag in my fieldgear, a small wallocker in my office where I keep a few changes of clothes, there is a shower in the latrine down the hall, the breakroom has a microwave and large refrig for all workers. I keep a low profile, use the computer to stay intouch with my family, watch tv in my office and read alot. Simple living on the cheap, I've been doing this for years. I do go home on the weekends and holidays.

[bunnies]

26. I saw a report on the news not long ago...

There are several congress-peeps who do this. Apparently, they cant afford the rent in DC.

[blue_onyx]

28. Well, he's saving himself 1500

but there is some cost to living in his office. He is using the shower available in the basement. His office is using more electricity with him living there than it would without him living there. Who pays these costs? If the government covers costs, such as the electricity used by the offices of members of Congress, then some of the cost is being passed to the taxpayers rather than himself.

[Marrah_G]

29. Bizarre that anyone on this board would be upset by this......

[Mudoria]

31. This is DU.. you really shouldn't be surprised

more of the expected than the unexpected.

[tammywammy]

53. Agreed. n/t

[fishwax]

30. only rich people should be in congress

"If he cannot "afford" to be a congressman, maybe he should have stayed in Utah.."

I don't really have a problem with it, though.

[Marrah_G]

33. That's the line that left me scratching my head......

[SoCalDem]

61. I did not mean that only rich people should be in congress, BUT

EVERY "job decision" has familial consequences, and those must be weighed .. If someone cannot afford to share 3 or 4 way expenses with some other congresspeople, should they really expect to be allowed to LIVE in their place of business?

[originalpckelly]

32. Why is that such a bad thing? Who does it hurt?

:shrug:

[tuckessee]

34. What a country! One needs gov't permission to sleep somewhere.

What next, permits for pajamas?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

36. LOL Red Angry Face Smilie And Everything. How Humorously Melodramatic!!!

:rofl:

[greguganus]

40. Gotta agree with you there. n/t

[greguganus]

41. Would this have been such an issue for you if he didn't have an (R) behind his name? n/t

[SoCalDem]

52. yes.. it's an issue of a place being a workplace..not an apartment

around here, the code-cops are ALL over business people who try to combine work/home..

Government buildings have cleaning staffs who come in at night, and need access to offices to clean and do maintenance.. They should not have to scurry around wondering who's sleeping in which offices while they;re trying to get their jobs done in a tight timeframe..

he needs to buddy-up with some other congresscritters and hare a place, or maybe Orrin Hatch would rent him a room:)

[SmileyRose]

45. I hope you are being sarcastic.

[WI_DEM]

47. Actually about 46 congress people do this. I saw this on TV and they mentioned that. Also,

this has been done since the beginning of time. I don't think it's a big deal if they want to sleep in their offices, I actually think it's not a bad idea. I'd probably do it if I were in congress. It does save a lot of money. Not all congress people are wealthy.

[Sheltiemama]

58. Isn't this the guy who leg-wrestled with Stephen Colbert?

Stephen beat him three out of three times.

[anigbrowl]

48. Dramarama lol

[Love Bug]

50. I'd rather he sleep in his office than rent cheap from a lobbyist

[conspirator]

51. Sleeping in the office floor was common in Japan, specially for divorced men.

At least you save in rent.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

54. Where does he shower? nt

[SoCalDem]

59. apparently there's one in the gym in the basement

[bigwillq]

56. Why is this a problem?

:shrug:

[KamaAina]

57. Metro stops one whole block from the House offices

it's called "Capitol South". From there, Blue and Orange Line trains would take the impoverished congressdude out to much less expensive suburbs in places like Vienna, VA or Largo, MD.

edit: spelling, plus, it is uphill in the morning...

[Sebastian Doyle]

60. Utah huh? Probably avoiding his mothers in law

One of the definite hazards of Mormonism :evilgrin:

[NNN0LHI]

63. We had a employee living in the locker room at the plant I worked at for a while

His wife threw him out of the house and took his car.

He was there a few months before Security finally shagged him out of there.

Don

[MrScorpio]

64. Really, I don't know what the big deal is

I've read that more than a few congresscritters do it.

After living in the NCR for more than seven years myself, I understand.

[JI7]

70. i have no problem with it , i would probably do the same

unless i could get some lobbyist to pay for a better living space as many others do.