(Freshman) Congressman sleeps on cot to save cash (Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah)

CNN ^ | 1/9/2009 | Emily Sherman and Jim Acosta

[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....

[Citizen Blade]

I understand why they like DC, but if we had the right representation in DC they would not want to be there.

That's kind of a chicken and the egg type of problem- the people who don't want to be in DC at all aren't even going to run for office. You're left with the type of people for whom being a bigshot in a place like DC holds at least some appeal.

[x]

“Chaffetz’s father was briefly married to Kitty Dukakis and Chaffetz has an older half brother, John Dukakis.” — Wikipedia

[Citizen Blade]

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.

A valid point- there are plenty of staffers making $30K a year or less who figure out how to live in DC.

Frankly, this seems a little unseemly- our Capitol should not be a flophouse.

[Texas Fossil]

I am talking about people we need in Washington, not people who want to live in that cespool.

[Citizen Blade]

Lies, lies. There is no real work done there. Never has. Never will be.

Congressmen, and their staffs, work very long hours. Whether it's productive work is debatable, but most of them are working by 7 and put in a 10-12 hour day.

[kenavi]

Why don’t we get congressmen to telecommute?...Any takers??

Aye.

[Citizen Blade]

Plenty of us enjoy living in DC, many of us have nothing to do with politics, either :)

Having to be here for Inauguration Day may take some of the shine off of living here, though.

[Vigilanteman]

Lighten up. People making $30K per year in DC are generally the second income in the family, not the primary. And they aren’t expected to fly home 2000 miles or so every weekend to meet with constituents.

[KC_Conspirator]

Things like this were a regular occurence in the House GOP back in the 90’s.

[Citizen Blade]

Lighten up. People making $30K per year in DC are generally the second income in the family, not the primary.

A lot of the lower-level political staffers are single and are working their first job out of college.

And they aren’t expected to fly home 2000 miles or so every weekend to meet with constituents.

Congressmen have a travel budget when going back and forth on Congressional business.

[Texas Fossil]

My condolences.

I would not want to be in DC during the Inauguration (or coronation).

At this distance (in Texas) I am going to be Very Very ill.

The only consolation of this whole process is that I discovered how to cope with it, and rediscovered the OFF sitch on the TV.

[Citizen Blade]

I’m going to spend the day in my basement, probably with a bottle of scotch, watching movies.

If I ignore the whole thing, hopefully it won’t happen.

[DallasDeb]

Wonder what they contribute.

[OkeyDokeyOkie]

Oklahoma’s District One Congressman, John Sullivan, also sleeps in his Congressional office and has for some time. The fact wasn’t made public until a political opponent suggested there was something “undignified” about that kind of frugality. I might add, Sullivan was reelected, his opponent is...who knows where? No one seems to care. http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=9275085

[Texas Fossil]

I plan to fire up the old Collins twins and work HF Ham radio. Possibly a little CW also.

There aren’t many Lefties there. A Lot of X-military and old foggy types.

I am not a member of Quarter Century Wireless Assoc., but I Qualify.

I spend 20 years running a Navy Mars station out of my home and car. Really enjoyed handling health & welfare traffic for the Navy and Marines. Before cellphones and the internet.

[Free_SJersey]

"The job has perks, the job is important, but we don’t pay enough, and we demand saints in return

$174,000 a year is a substantial pay for someone who is doing something that should be done for the good of the people and out of a sense of patriotic duty. These vermin should be getting paid whatever the median income of those he represents and should live in baracks.

I am sick and tired of the poor mouthing of those who chose to serve. Those perks you mention don't even begin to explain how some mediocre lawyer goes to Congress and ten years later, they're millionaires. After their second term in the House and their first in the Senate, they've all lost touch with the people.

Politics should never be a career. That's the worst thing that's happened to this nation.

[Carley]

Bless this man. He’s living in the real world and realizing he is not now a member of royalty.

[Irene Adler]

Many congressmen have done this over the years. Not a big deal.

[philly-d-kidder]

Jeffers the once Us Senator did it for years..he lived in his office,,,

[Clintonfatigued]

I’m so glad that Chris Cannon was fired.