Comments on: Video: New congressman plans to spend all his time at the office — literally

By: BizzyBlog » Couldn’t Help But Comment (112108, Morning)

BizzyBlog » Couldn’t Help But Comment (112108, Morning) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:32:35 +0000

[...] Allah at Hot Air thinks that Congressmen who actually sleep in their offices (one outgoing rep thinks there may be [...]

By: Video: New congressman plans to spend all his time at the office — literally | All Excerpts

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:40:23 +0000

[...] Ostensibly it’s because he has three young kids and needs to save, but rent in D.C. [...] Read the rest » Read More [...]

By: unclesmrgol

unclesmrgol — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:54:40 +0000

If this is what it takes for the common man to serve in public office, so be it.

By: Bald Igle

Bald Igle — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:36:27 +0000

He’s not only good on cutting spending but his claim to fame is knocking out Chris Cannon in the primaries over immigration.

By: aggie13

aggie13 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:33:14 +0000

Heh, he’s Mormon…that 15% tything cuts pretty deep into his apartment rent.

Wyznowski on November 20, 2008 at 3:02 PM

BTW, tithing is only 10%.

By: Lady Logician

Lady Logician — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:09:43 +0000

It’s not a stunt AP (and comments). Jason is THE REAL DEAL.
I too was a little skeptical when I moved here, but I got to know the guy during the course of the general. He ran his campaign (primary against Rep Chris “RINO” Cannon and general) this way. No paid staff, no paid pollsters, no loaning money to the campaign…none of that. No debt at all on the campaign.

Again – he’s the real thing! Look out DC…..

By: DL13

DL13 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:19:34 +0000

I love it. Wish we had more like him in DC… Maybe 2010 if this catches on…

By: melda

melda — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:11:08 +0000

He’s my rep. Hoping that he lives up to his promise.

By: Janos Hunyadi

Janos Hunyadi — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:55:17 +0000

Rep. Dick Armey ( R-Texas ) who became powerful in the House after 1994, was first elected in the early 80s and publicly stated that he lived in his office while he was in D.C.

This isn’t new…………..

By: nlj

nlj — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:46:01 +0000

Living in DC *is* that expensive. You can do ok in N. Virginia if you have roommates.

But I’m thinking that a married man with kids doesn’t want roommates. And that if he had them all sorts of scandalous things would be said.

I mean it’s not like it’s the 40’s and there’s boarding houses and stuff.

By: Numenorean

Numenorean — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:01:32 +0000

Is this what Obama means by “using a scalpel?”

By: BetseyRoss

BetseyRoss — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:46:41 +0000

This guy sounds like a winner to me. Why not live in his office during the week? It’s safe and warm/cool. He has access to a gym and shower. The cafeteria is right there and it is not safe to go anywhere in DC at night. The traffic is terrible and he would have to spend money on gas and transportation if he lived in an apartment anywhere around the DC. area. It is horribly expensive in DC even in the suburbs. It’s a lot easier to get work done without the phone ringing and people bothering you. Then he can go home on the weekends and relax because he got all of this work done. Nothing like getting your homework done before you go home!

By: WasatchMan

WasatchMan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:43:40 +0000

Chaffetz is my congressman-elect and a known publicity hound. He’s a nephew or something of Michael Dukakis and used to be a Democrat. But he saw he could never get elected to national office in Utah that way so he switched parties. Expect more of this kind of camera seeking from him in the future.

By: Spurius Ligustinus

Spurius Ligustinus — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:31:38 +0000

I think “Allahpundit” needs to expand his vocabulary. I’m looking at this site, and see not one, not two, but three instances of his favorite word, “Dude.”

At least there’s no present instance of his other favorite word, “Gulp.” Thank Heaven for small favors, I suppose.

By: chsw

chsw — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:27:08 +0000

Longhorn Six – There’s the Navy Yard as a site. And they can eat MRE’s. IIRC, Tip O’Neill refused to eat the first generation of freeze-dried MRE’s when Republicans tested them with Potomac River water and water purification tablets.

chsw

I’m a taxpayer. Where’s MY bailout!

By: PattyJ

PattyJ — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:20:13 +0000

No raises, please! They knew what they were getting into and are hoping that it will be ultimately a win for them.

By: Longhorn Six

Longhorn Six — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:11:06 +0000

I’ve long been an advocate of government supplied and maintained housing for Congress. Build it at one of the military installations near DC, set up a regular shuttle bus run, and cut their salaries to pay for it. Oh, and pay them the same as the military for subsistence (food).

-Retired Lieutenant Colonel, US Army

By: njcommuter

njcommuter — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:08:54 +0000

Hey, maybe Barney Frank has a spare room…

Maybe Charlie Rangel could chip in some money, buy a few houses near work for his colleagues.

By: Wyznowski

Wyznowski — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:02:54 +0000

Heh, he’s Mormon…that 15% tything cuts pretty deep into his apartment rent.

By: chsw

chsw — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:56:49 +0000

A follow-up to “flyoverland” -

DC already has suitable locations for a Congressional dorm. One is an unused area of Lorton Reformatory. The other is an unused building at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

chsw

By: Dubn8tr

Dubn8tr — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:53:55 +0000

I live in the DC area and, yes, it is that expensive. You already have to maintain a home in your district and then to add on rent in DC – it’s outrageous. If you’re independantly wealthy it’s no big deal. But if you’re not, and you’ve got a mortgage and mouths to feed and college funds to fill, etc. you’re screwed if you have to try and rent in DC as well. To live in a small efficiancy apartment non in a bad part of town you’re easily looking at $1800+ per month. It’s probably better to just rent a room in someone’s house like Norm Coleman does. Even that is going to run you at least $600-$800 a month.

t.ferg on November 20, 2008 at 1:15 PM

No kidding. I live in Maryland, and it’s horrible. To get the quiet neighborhood/reasonably safe environment I had living in NC for $800 will cost me upwards of $1500 in MD (and safety is a gamble).

I interned for Bob Erlich when he was in Congress, and those offices are very nice.

By: chsw

chsw — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:53:43 +0000

I grew up in and around DC. I interned on Capitol Hill many years ago (probably before AP and MM were born). Senators and Representatives had a tax break all their own for maintaining a second home in metro DC. They probably still have it. No additional COLA is needed for them. If a congressman wants to sleep on a sofabed in his office, fine with me.

chsw

I’m a taxpayer. Where’s MY bailout?

By: flyoverland

flyoverland — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:51:16 +0000

I read an op-ed a few years ago in the St. Louis paper. The writer proposed that Congress allow each Congressional District and State to raise private money to build a Congressional Residence in Washington. The residence would be used by the sitting Congressman or Senator while in office and could not be used for political purposes. The argument, with which I agree, is that the current system excludes the average person from seeking these offices because it is impossible to afford housing. If this was done with public money, I think it would be a great idea.

By: Vashta.Nerada

Vashta.Nerada — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:50:15 +0000

Upwards of 10 percent of the House actually lives in the House? What on earth for? God help me for suggesting it, but … do we need to give Congress a cost-of-living raise? Build ‘em a dorm? Create a tent city on the Mall, replete with Nancy leading the troops in campfire songs? There has to be a better way.

A better way might be to have them telecommute. I can think of no reason for a member of congress to live in DC – they just succumb to the ‘government runs this country’ mindset. The more time they spend in their home district, the more likely they are to vote in the interests of their constituents. In Texas, we have a biennial congress, where they literally have to go home when the session is over.

By: scalleywag

scalleywag — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:17:25 +0000

I hear scoffing in the background…is that the auto execs?