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Watchdog calls for crack down on Congress sleepovers - Politics - Capitol Hill - msnbc.comA Washington ethics watchdog says it's time for Congress to crack down on lawmakers who sleep in their offices rather than pay for a place to live. Reacting to a surge in congressmen bunking down in their work spaces, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington wants the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether the politicians are getting an unfair tax break and violating their own rules by making personal use of public resources.
"House office buildings are not dorms or frat houses," Melanie Sloan, the group's executive director, said Thursday. "If members didn't want to find housing in Washington, they shouldn't have run for Congress in the first place."
For years, at least a few lawmakers have slept on couches and cots in their offices to avoid long commutes or pricey Washington rents. Some see it as a badge of honor, a commitment to frugality and hard work, and a reminder to constituents they don't consider Washington home.
CREW cited media reports that more than 30 lawmakers, all men, are now doing it. Sloan thinks the real total could be as many as 40 or 50 after a wave of budget-conscious, anti-Washington freshmen won seats in November.
Rep. Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, has slept in his office for years. Ryan, R-Wis., brushed aside questions about the complaint.
"People have been doing it for decades," he said. "I work until midnight every night. I get up at six every morning."
Another longtime office-sleeper, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said he'll move out if the rules change. But he said it is more convenient for him to stay in the Capitol complex.
They are vagrants, kick them out
No other worker would be allowed to live in their workplace. Zoning would not allow it and they work in a public building
Let them sleep in homeless shelters
Is it really a problem?
Watchdog calls for crack down on Congress sleepovers - Politics - Capitol Hill - msnbc.comA Washington ethics watchdog says it's time for Congress to crack down on lawmakers who sleep in their offices rather than pay for a place to live. Reacting to a surge in congressmen bunking down in their work spaces, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington wants the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether the politicians are getting an unfair tax break and violating their own rules by making personal use of public resources.
"House office buildings are not dorms or frat houses," Melanie Sloan, the group's executive director, said Thursday. "If members didn't want to find housing in Washington, they shouldn't have run for Congress in the first place."
For years, at least a few lawmakers have slept on couches and cots in their offices to avoid long commutes or pricey Washington rents. Some see it as a badge of honor, a commitment to frugality and hard work, and a reminder to constituents they don't consider Washington home.
CREW cited media reports that more than 30 lawmakers, all men, are now doing it. Sloan thinks the real total could be as many as 40 or 50 after a wave of budget-conscious, anti-Washington freshmen won seats in November.
Rep. Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, has slept in his office for years. Ryan, R-Wis., brushed aside questions about the complaint.
"People have been doing it for decades," he said. "I work until midnight every night. I get up at six every morning."
Another longtime office-sleeper, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said he'll move out if the rules change. But he said it is more convenient for him to stay in the Capitol complex.
"If members didn't want to find housing in Washington, they shouldn't have run for Congress in the first place."
what happened to keeping out the rich and idle and power to the people? unreal.
I'm betting that the group bitching about this is funded by real estate agents with a lot of vacant apartments.why on earth would this be a problem
Umm most people move to where their job is.
why should congresspeople be any different from the rest of us?
I also sleep at work 1 night a week.
As a matter of fact, that night is tonight.
Anyone that works on the road must keep a residence in their home state for their drivers liscence, etc.
They can just speep in their car like I did during some hard times.
We pay for them a parking place and likely a rental car as well while in DC.
I also sleep at work 1 night a week.
As a matter of fact, that night is tonight.
get out there with the garbage where you belong....hoser.....
Umm most people move to where their job is.
why should congresspeople be any different from the rest of us?
