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Post Info TOPIC: Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's "unfair".
Lawyerlady


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Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's "unfair".
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Democrats: 'Unsanitary' Politicians Sleeping in Their Offices Abuse Taxpayer Funds, Including Paul Ryan

 David Brennan,Newsweek Tue, Mar 6 12:58 PM EST 

House Democrats are calling for an ethics investigation into lawmakers who sleep in their offices, saying the “unsanitary” practice is an abuse of taxpayer funds.

Well-known politicians who regularly bed down in their workspaces include Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Politico reported.

The number of those who sleep in their offices ranges from 40 to more than 100, the website said. Most of those who sleep at work are male Republicans, though women and Democrats are also implicated.

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A December letter to Ethics Committee Chairwoman Susan Brooks and ranking member Ted Deutch—signed by 30 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)—claimed that office sleepers “reflect negatively upon the decorum and credibility of the House as a body and as an institution.”

Its authors called for an investigation into the “legality and propriety” of politicians staying in their offices overnight. Though the signatories asked for a response from the Ethics Committee by January 5, they say they are yet to receive one. A spokesperson for the House Ethics Committee declined to comment, Politico said.

“There’s something unsanitary about bringing people to your office who are talking about public policy where you spent the night, and that’s unhealthy, unsanitary—and some people would say it’s almost nasty,” said Bennie Thompson, who is the the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee.

GettyImages-98890886 Bennie Thompson

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Though politicians hope the practice will mark them out as hardworking and frugal, it may actually violate House rules or federal law.

“Members who sleep overnight in their offices receive free lodging, free cable, free security, free cleaning services, and utilize other utilities free of charge in direct violation of the ethics rules which prohibit official resources from being used for personal purposes,” the letter reads. It also claims that these members could be receiving free government benefits worth up to 10 percent of their salary.

The Democrats that penned the complaint argue that lawmakers sleeping in their offices could create an inappropriate environment, for example if staffers have to clean up sleeping arrangements or interact with those in “sleeping attire, underwear and even partially nude.”

GettyImages-916058564 US Capitol at night

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The practice is unfair to those who actually leave their offices overnight and are subject to Washington D.C.’s high costs of living, the signatories claim. They argue that, if the practice is to be allowed, those who live in their offices should be taxed at the “fair market value of a Capitol Hill apartment.”

Politico quoted one CBC member who noted the hypocrisy of Republicans pushing for cuts to social welfare while living in one of the nation’s highest cost areas for free. “I think public housing should be for people who need it, not for members of Congress,” the member said.

When he was asked about it in 2015, Paul Ryan defended his habit. “I get up very early in the morning. I work out. I work until about 11:30 at night. I go to bed. And I do the same thing the next day,” Ryan said. “It actually makes me more efficient. I can actually get more work done by sleeping on a cot in my office.”



-- Edited by Lawyerlady on Thursday 8th of March 2018 07:22:57 AM

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Ok - this has been going on for years - and for good reason. House and Senate members don't actually LIVE in D.C. They live in their home states. Their salary is $174,000 - which is hardly enough to afford a second home in D.C. while maintaining their homes in their states.

Basically, the Democrats think only the uber rich should dare to be a Rep.

I have always thought those bunkers under the capital should be dormitories for when the Reps come into town.

And the - "it's unfair to those that actually have homes in D.C." is crap. WHY is it unfair? Because you made other choices?

Whine, whine, whine. More Democratic petty bull****.

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What in the world are the ones complaining and it being unsanitary doing in their sleep that they think everyone else is an unsanitary sleeper?

Honestly, I don't know why their offices don't have a small living/sleeping area. It would make sense.

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Ridiculous. Nothing burger. Free cable? Heat? Electricity? Cleaning services? Bwwhwhwhwh All those utilities are being paid whether used or not.

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Lawyerlady


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And the heat gets turned off from 12-4am.

Also - Paul Ryan sleeps in his office instead of the Speaker's official suite. He says it smells nasty of cigarette smoke, so he doesn't use it.

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RE: Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's "unfair".
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They are not even in D.C. most of the year.  Why would they rent an apartment for 83 nights?

 

Members of Congress make $174,000 a year, but maintaining a residence in the neighborhoods around the U.S. Capitol can easily cost approximately $2,000 a month. That's a waste of money, these members said, if you're only staying in Washington a few nights a week — and keeping a house in your home state.

"Next year's schedule for the House activities? We're here 83 nights. So you're paying rent in a very expensive neighborhood for 282 nights you're not here," Quigley said.

Since next year is an election year, lawmakers will spend even less time in Washington, so sleeping in the office is not just practical, but maybe, also good politics.



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Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's
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So telework. Easy, peasy.

I think $2,000 is underestimating. I paid $1,500 for a one bedroom 17 years ago in the suburbs, 15-20 min. outside DC.

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Lawyerlady


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RE: Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's "unfair".
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FNW wrote:

So telework. Easy, peasy.

I think $2,000 is underestimating. I paid $1,500 for a one bedroom 17 years ago in the suburbs, 15-20 min. outside DC.

 Congress can't telework during session.



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Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's
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Skype?

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Lawyerlady


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No.

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RE: Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's "unfair".
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FNW wrote:

So telework. Easy, peasy.

I think $2,000 is underestimating. I paid $1,500 for a one bedroom 17 years ago in the suburbs, 15-20 min. outside DC.

 They can't vote unless in person.



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Lawyerlady


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Reps sleep in their office and some Democrats are whining it's
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When Members are in their Washington, D.C., offices their schedules are
longer because of the demands of the chamber and requests by constituent
groups for in-person meetings. Typically, a Member’s time in D.C. is
comprised of floor votes, committee hearings and mark-ups (voting on
amendments to legislation at the committee level), caucus/conference
meetings with colleagues, meetings with staff, individual appointments
with constituent groups and lobbyists, and communications activities
(press conferences, media interviews, social media, reviewing communications
from constituents).

Often, Members are juggling several committee activities and various
meetings occurring simultaneously during the day. Sometimes the House
schedule requires late nights or weekend votes. Most of these D.C. activities
are “must do’s,” although with whom the Member meets and how long these
meetings last are usually determined by the congressional office. When in
D.C., a common day for the Member begins at 6 or 7 a.m., and finishes at 8
p.m. or later—followed by work-related reading at home to prepare for the
next day.


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www.congressfoundation.org/storage/documents/CMF_Pubs/life-in-congress-the-member-perspective.pdf



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Yes, this has been going on for a long time. However, not sure why they just didnt' build some Senate Housing or something? Seems like that would have been an easy fix especially for new congressmen. However, they soon get quite rich so I guess there is no need of it.

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