Posted on 01/09/2009 1:48:40 PM PST by Pyro7480
In a time of economic turmoil, most Americans are being frugal with their money, but one freshman congressman is taking cost-cutting to a new level.
Newly elected Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, opted out of renting an apartment in Washington, instead deciding on a cot in his office every night.
"I will save $1,500 a month doing this," Chaffetz said. "I get paid a very handsome salary, no doubt about it, but you know, I've got expenses and a future for my kids and my family, too."
In a stroke of luck, Chaffetz was one of the few freshmen members of Congress to have the chance at an office with a window when he drew number six out of 55 in the office lottery.
His office in the Longworth House Building comes with a half-bathroom, a closet that fits a cot, and what he calls his "breakfast nook" where he stores Fig Newtons, granola bars and mixed nuts.
The building also has a gym with a shower room, where Chaffetz starts his day about 5:45 each morning....
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
If I recall, Dick Armey did the same thing.
That’s $1,000 less per month to spend on himself and his familiy.
Why do we care how he goes about his business?
If they had to live in run of the mill dorms, they WOULD CHOOSE to have term limits.
There was a thread last year on open records laws
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2014833/posts
I found some older stories in the Congressional Archives that list some other issues as well.
But the advantage is that the cleaning crews do come in, as opposed to all the apartments (and now a house) which I had to clean myself :-)
I completely understand him in this aspect. He is always at work and all the services are free. Makes sense, as long as he doesn't need a large personal space for hobbies. You can put that $1,500/mo to a very good, long-lasting use instead of burning that cash on a rent.
The cleaning crews can be easily worked around by, for example, going out for a dinner when they come to clean - and he can always talk to them to make sure they come at a fixed time, since other (empty) offices do not care when they are cleaned.
Too big. Congress would convert the space into luxury suites.
Maybe in the future, but Congress is one of the least tech-savvy institutions in the country. As of a few years ago, they didn't even allow laptops on the floor of the Senate, for example. There are a lot of old guys in Congress who like to do business the old-fashioned way.
And, to be honest, politicians like being in DC- good restaurants, lots of fun events at the Kennedy Center, beautiful, sophisticated women to have as a "DC Wife." It's much more appealing than working out of your local office in some strip mall in Podunk, Idaho.
Once the dems find out , they will call health dept. to complain that his orfice isn’t a hotel!
I understand why they like DC, but if we had the right representation in DC they would not want to be there.
It is not necessary for things to be this corrupted.
Lord Acton said it, “Power corrupts and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.” (I am really not a fan of Lord Acton or Lord anybody—but the quote is accurate—then and now)
Jefferson understood this when this nation was founded and railed about the corruption of the cities.
I love living in fly over country in the middle of the “Big Nothing” (as the hunters from Dallas call it) in Texas.
I’m sorry. This is bogus jive crappola.
So someone decides he doesn’t want to spend $500/month for a room in the area so he decides to live in his place of employment. Since he’s congressional rep, it’s ok?
Tell me, what would happen if servicemembers assigned to the DC area decided that they’re just going to live in the Pentagon, the Crystal City/Rosslyn/Ballston offrice buildings to save money? They’d be told to “GET OUT.”
That’s what this $174k/year congressman should be told.
There’s a difference between being frugal and being cheap. Frugal would be getting a small studio appartment to sleep in during weeknights. Cheap is sleeping on a cot in your office.
An office is provided as a place to conduct the people’s business, not as a temporary bedroom. Turning an office room into a makeshift bedroom creates extra work for the janitorial staff, leaves a bad impression for visitors, and creates awkward situations for the Congressman’s staffers who are often expected to work late nights or early mornings. Also, you can bet that the staffers, who make much less money and are also expected to travel between the home district and DC, are not afforded the same opportunity to save on housing costs.
He hasn't been there long enough to scope that out, I'm sure but I think the cot thing won't last more than a year.
“...The building also has a gym with a shower room, where Chaffetz starts his day about 5:45 each morning....”
Lies, lies. There is no real work done there. Never has. Never will be.
Why do you think our under-achievers are so eager to get the position?
It’s genuine. This was featured on ABCWorldNewsTonight a few days ago. They (the libs) find it incredible. Dedicated public servant with integrity is an oddity to them.
He has a folding cot, so his bedroom is out of sight most of the day.
In that case, I am tempted to take my cot and set it up in the hallway.
But he gets to work nice and early:)
It’s genuine. He’s quite a guy.
“Too big. Congress would convert the space into luxury suites.”
Hahahaha. Too true. And think of the boat slips for the yachts...
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