Congress like a Kindel....No Pages

[hortysir]

Former Pages Fighting Decision to End Program : Roll Call News

The ink is not even dry on House leaders’ decision to terminate the chamber’s page program and former pages are already up in arms and trying to find a way to reverse the decision.
Congressional leaders announced Monday that they would discontinue the almost 200-year-old program because it costs too much and because pages’ duties of carrying messages to Members has been made obsolete by technology.
Tim Caton, who relayed messages for ex-Rep. Paul McHale (D-Pa.) in 1994, said he has been trying to reach out to fellow former pages to brainstorm ways to restore the $5 million program. With hundreds of now-successful alumni — many with political ties — he thinks it should be an easy sell.

Wouldn't that be like the RCC eliminating altar boys?


Ok, that was BAD!!!


I understand and can empathize with the tradition of it all but they ARE outdated.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

It would be like the RCC eliminating Alter boys. There has been long history of abuse of the program. And Email and smart phones make it ridiculous.

 

[uscitizen]

KY ended their page program. a cool 6 milion saved.

 

[MeBelle]

"Congressional leaders announced Monday that they would discontinue the almost 200-year-old program because it costs too much and because pages’ duties of carrying messages to Members has been made obsolete by technology.

Tim Caton, who relayed messages for ex-Rep. Paul McHale (D-Pa.) in 1994, said he has been trying to reach out to fellow former pages to brainstorm ways to restore the $5 million program. With hundreds of now-successful alumni — many with political ties — he thinks it should be an easy sell.

“Private funding is the way to go for this. How could [Speaker John] Boehner [R-Ohio] say no to that?” Caton, who now works in the private sector, said in an interview. “Trying to raise that kind of money is not that difficult — in fact, not at all — when you’ve got a base of people who can do it.”

Another former page, Jerry Papazian, who now works for a management consulting firm and serves as president of the Capitol Page Alumni Association, said he wants to try to convince Members to reverse the decision."

The rest of the article.........

talks about private funding as a way to 'save the pages'.

I think it's great that the budget is being cut.
Being a page is like being an intern. What a great way to learn the ropes! Privately funded of course.

 

[hortysir]

KY ended their page program. a cool 6 milion saved.

These days every little million helps