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‘I can’t afford an apartment’: Congressmen sleeping in offices cry poverty
nypost ^ | 05/01/2018 | Marisa Schultz

Posted on 05/02/2018 9:04:00 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27

WASHINGTON — These Congress members are sleeping on the job — and defending their right to do it.

Crying poverty amid decade-long stagnant salaries and Washington’s steep cost of living, an increasing number of House lawmakers have turned into professional squatters at night, hitting the sack in their Capitol Hill offices — on everything from cots in closets to futons stashed behind constituent couches — to save a few bucks during the work week.

“Washington is too expensive,” said Rep. Dan Donovan (R-SI), who credits the cot that he sleeps on in a tiny alcove in his office as the reason he is able to serve in Congress while still paying his New York City housing costs.

“If we go to the point where you have to rent or have to buy [in DC], then only millionaires would be members of Congress,’’ he said. “I don’t think that was the intent of our Founding Fathers.”

But some of the penny-pinching pols’ colleagues are disgusted by what they call an unsanitary, undignified practice and want it banned.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 11thdistrict; apartment; congressmen; dandonovan; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; marisaschultz; newyork; newyorkcity; poverty; sleeping; southbrooklyn; statenisland; twitter
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To: ChicagoConservative27

The solution is to build them some barracks. If it’s good enough for the soldiers, it’s good enough for congresscritters.


81 posted on 05/02/2018 10:01:37 AM PDT by zeugma (Power without accountability is fertilizer for tyranny.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Build a Congressional Barracks with Bunk Beds ,Ah maybe there’s an old underground bunker close by


82 posted on 05/02/2018 10:03:13 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Y.M.C.A., dude:


83 posted on 05/02/2018 10:10:48 AM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

I wouldn’t be opposed to a $2,000/month allowance for housing.


84 posted on 05/02/2018 10:16:20 AM PDT by WASCWatch
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To: pgkdan
RE:”Where the heck is SI?”

Its a state just like LI.

85 posted on 05/02/2018 10:22:41 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Florida school safety bill=gun grabbing)
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To: TomGuy

Members’ Representational Allowance:

“In 2016, each Member’s MRA increased by 1% from the 2015 level, and the MRAs range from $1,207,510 to $1,383,709, with an average of $1,268,520”. They have to pay for their office personnel out of it.

Why do Senators get more?

Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA) is made up three separate allowances: the administrative and clerical assistance allowance; the legislative assistance allowance; and the official office expense allowance.

The preliminary list of SOPOEA levels contained in the Senate report accompanying the fiscal year 2017 legislative branch appropriations bill shows a range of $3,043,454 to $4,815,203. The average allowance is $3,306,570.


86 posted on 05/02/2018 10:25:34 AM PDT by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll eventually get what you deserve)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

I believe they can’t afford apartments if they have kids, a house back home, and don’t take bribes.

The solution is dormitories. Quads, to be exact.

If their concept of the job is that it entails “moving to Washington”, then they shouldn’t be there to begin with.


87 posted on 05/02/2018 10:28:05 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Single payer is coming. Which kind do you like?)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Here is the deal Congress. You vote term limits on yourselves and we the people will build you a dormitory. Otherwise shut up.


88 posted on 05/02/2018 10:31:57 AM PDT by Saltmeat
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To: Dilbert San Diego

The problem with that is there would be too many groups constantly trying to make/break laws during their down time or cause group think on issues. Keep ‘em apart during non working hours.


89 posted on 05/02/2018 10:35:02 AM PDT by kiltie65
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To: ChicagoConservative27

People working for Giant Food, etc. are able to find places to live in the DC area.

I think Gerald Ford lived in Alexandria.

Given their work performance, I’d have them all living in Congressional Heights or Dodge Park.


90 posted on 05/02/2018 10:38:42 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: ChicagoConservative27

With all the military bases that surround DC, surely there might be room at “the visiting officers quarters”??


91 posted on 05/02/2018 10:40:28 AM PDT by Terry L Smith (.)
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To: Terry L Smith
With all the military bases that surround DC, surely there might be room at “the visiting officers quarters”??

Not really; I worked in the NCR and am a retired navy officer. No.

92 posted on 05/02/2018 10:49:36 AM PDT by Ace's Dad ("America is Great because America is Good " - Alexis de Tocqueville)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Um...I live in the area on a secretary’s salary and I have a home and a place to sleep. Do these people really want sympathy?


93 posted on 05/02/2018 11:03:41 AM PDT by freepertoo
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To: Repealthe17thAmendment

I was just going to write what you wrote! They did it to themselves. I remember when Washington was a hot little southern town. Now it is a metropolis.

Perhaps, before they take the job, they figure out the logistics of actually living there. No one would have any sympathy for YOU if you relocated and then bitched about the lack of housing.


94 posted on 05/02/2018 11:09:06 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Boo hoo!!!!


95 posted on 05/02/2018 11:11:12 AM PDT by EdnaMode
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To: WKUHilltopper
Staten Island went for Trump dude.

Go take care of Manchin, topper.

96 posted on 05/02/2018 11:17:38 AM PDT by onona (Hope, Faith, Love)
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To: Voltage

Exactly.


97 posted on 05/02/2018 11:19:09 AM PDT by thesearethetimes... (Had I brought Christ with me, the outcome would have been different. Dr.Eric Cunningham)
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To: miss marmelstein

Have sympathy for them—maybe they never heard of that Internet thingy where you can check housing prices _before_ you move... ;-)


98 posted on 05/02/2018 11:22:59 AM PDT by cgbg (Hidden behind the social justice warrior mask is corruption and sexual deviance.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Come on, can’t you make deals with Soros or some Muslim country lobbyists like all the others?


99 posted on 05/02/2018 11:25:31 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: TomGuy

They do not get “millions” but do receive an annual operating amount, which I don’t know what it is now. They usually have two homes, along with normal living expenses at each residence, like transportation, utilities, groceries, insurance, etc.


100 posted on 05/02/2018 11:25:57 AM PDT by Toespi
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