Posted on 03/18/2013 7:51:15 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Well, isn't this just peachy. This is actually the first time I've heard anything about it, but apparently, the public servants of the United States Senate have been enjoying taxpayer-subsidized trims and shaves on Capitol Hill since before the Civil War --- an oh-so-beloved tradition that, in merely the past fifteen years, has cost taxpayers over five million dollars. Senate Hair Care Services is technically open to the public, for those who know/care about it, but last year alone the salon needed a $300,000 bailout from the Senate coffers to cover their jacked-up costs.
The convenient little Senatorial perk has steadily resisted several sporadic efforts to reform the outfit over the years, but sequestration is once again focusing some attention on the endeavor, the Weekly Standard reports:
The barbershop of the U.S. Senate has run deficits of approximately $350,000 a year for each of the last 15 years. So Senate sergeant at arms Terry Gainer has decided to try out a new model, one that has looked rather unfashionable during the Obama era: privatization.
Gainer has tried to trim Senate Hair Care Services for the past few years. Now the political climate troubling everyone else on Capitol Hill is allowing him to move faster than he anticipated towards privatizing it completely.
The sequestrations required spending cuts provide convenient cover. Gainer is offering early retirement to all eligible employees, hoping to replace them with independent contractors. Four employees have already accepted the offer, and they plan to retire in the next 60 days. Gainer likens these buyouts to those that corporations often make. He has no timeline for complete privatization, but is determined to see it through.
The other chamber managed to revamp their own deficit-running, government-subsidized barbershop in 1995, when House Republicans passed a resolution as a part of Speaker Gingrich’s privatization task force — is it really so very outrageous that the Senate should have to do the same?
Where’s the beauty salon for the women? Can’t descriminate, ya know.
Looked it up.
Anybody can make an appt, fairly good on-line ratings too.
202-224-4560
It’s unisex, some of the on-line comments from women were very complimentary. Prices seemed high compared to flyover country but so is everything else in DC.
I started shaving myself at the age of 13. Sure, I cut myself a few times, but I somehow managed to shave without help for all these decades.
I have paid for a haircut about 6 or 8 times during the past 40 years, when I was out of town for extended periods of time.
Who helps these crooks take showers and wipe their butts?
If only I were a King.......
Heh heh, a government ran business running on deficit? Why am I NOT surprised?
It says in the article — $350,000 per year deficit for the past 15 years. That means they owe the tax payers: $5.25 Million dollars.
Who the heck is running this joint anyway?
You’re not royalty! Pay for you own damned haircuts!
Does Obama still fly his Barber in from Chicago ? Oh and his Chef
“Wheres the beauty salon for the women? Cant descriminate, ya know.”
From the looks of the “female” Senators, they must be using this barber shop too. Dianne Feinswine still looks like a character from Star Wars, but then she did way back when she was mayor of San Francisco.
I promise you without looking that they have one somewhere
no kidding...my wife cuts my hair...Banacek meets High and Tight...had very long hair from 72-95...not much of an issue then...basically did not cut my hair
WAHL clippers run about 50 bucks and do a great job
I know vain men spend 100 buck to have a haircut..silly
Despite those platinum salaries, capitol hill gyms, restaurtants, barber shops-—the money from earmarks and inside investment tips——etc etc etc——the legend iis that once they get in office they NEVER EVER spend one cent of their own money——for anything,
Taxpayers are subsidizing these jerkoffs 24/7.
This is just one of the perks that the ruling elite has voted for itself. We pay for them while they sip champagne and debate whether they will take 29.1% of our money or 29.3%.
Do these guys pay for anything?
The House babershop, on the other hand, was privatized almost 20 years ago. It runs at a profit, which stands to reason since the three staff stylists are independent contractors. In addition, they pay the government almost $3000 a month to rent the space. Plus they have 335 more clients.
No.
I won’t contribute to their campaigns any longer, either. My own taxes went up, along w/everything else that is essential & mandated. Why should I subsidize these clowns so that they can enter the nobility and then be totally subsidized for life?
I failed to mention who cut my hair for the past 40 years..... my wife.
I have to admit, as the years fly by, it is much less labor for her. LOL
The Army made me pay for my haircuts. And on a $93.00 monthly income, too.
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