House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just moved into new offices at a whopping price tag of nearly $19,000 a month. Nice deal for the Realtor. Bad deal for us the taxpayers who are funding her extravagence.
It turns out that this is more than double the next highest monthly rent for a Member of Congress. Her old space was "inadequate" but a bargain at almost one-fifth of the new price at a mere $4,300. The new space is just over 3,000 square feet and one-third larger than the previous office.
Of course, her staff has a comeback for the opulence. They say they needed the larger space and that it will save taxpayers money because of its energy efficiency. How many years do you suppose it will take to do that? What is the recapture rate?
Members of Congress should have the meagerest of accommodations - a small storefront in a strip center. Nothing fancy. The Members of Congress are hardly ever there anyway. All they need is just enough space for someone to answer a phone, check the email, and receive the faxes. Their main staff is in Washington.
Besides, any Realtor who would rent the space to a Member of Congress - regardless of who they are - for more than 2 years would be taking a huge risk. This year it's especially risky. What will they do with that space when she loses or when she is no longer Speaker?
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I am so looking forward to her losing her next election.
Home office? My representative just has a very small office, but he also returns phone calls. Speaker Pelosi hasn't called me back yet.
Michael,
Can that really happen? At least she can lose the Speakership. :)
Steve
Tammy,
Why can't we prescribe what Representatives get to spend? They set their own budgets, and this is "in her budget." Incredible! :)
Steve
When are Americans going to rise up and show Nancy Pelosi that she is not a queen?
Only San Francisco gets to vote for or against her. She's a queen for life. Steve is correct however, she hopefully will lose her speaker ship in November.
We're so screwed here in Mexifornia. We're a friggin poster child for a failed socialist state.
Nick,
I don't know how we get through to her - remember she's the one who needed health care passed to know what was in the bill. :)
Steve
Will,
I don't see her ever losing in her ultra liberal district. Maybe redistricting will expand her district. :)
Steve
Steve,
There is plenty of blame to go around on both side of the isle so point you finger at all of them. A poll was taken some years ago in Japan and 40 percent of the people polled said that their government work mainly for themselves, and only 7 percent work for the country. Could it be any different here in this country, I think not.
Steve,
The only thing John Edwards had right...there really is two Americas. Pelosi is in one, and we're in the other.
Rich
Steve,
There is the office, in San Francisco?
And this would be the case where I would rather say "heck with energy efficiency". Let her not stay there until she recoups the expenses (LOL)
I have a plan (that will never be enacted) that would make this kind of crap NEVER happen again.
Bottom line is that if she thinks it is so needed, SHE should pay for it.
Dee,
Nearly all of them are in it for themselves. That's why we're pushing to "vote them out." Won't happen, but a nice idea. :)
Steve
Rich,
She and her colleagues. :)
Steve
Steve, I heard bits and pieces of this today but didn't realize this is what they were talking about. What next? Oh I have an idea cap and trade UGH!!
You know somehow her name isn't on that lease. She wouldn't dare take responsibility for it. Wouldn't want to get kicked out if she loses her job like every home owner who has lost their job has been in the last 2 years.
...and I'll bet she is NEVER there. The office is a "show place" for her staff for them to meet with and AWE her voters and supporters!!!
Nancy Pelosi...when she goes America is on its way back. Of course she will have to take a bunch of her co-conspirators with her!
Steve - each representative and senator should be allowed the same amount of taxpayer paid budget for a home office, and it should not be extravagent. Of course those from San Francisco or New York would complain that it costs more there than in, say, Little Rock. But then again, they give people in New York the same social security benefits as in Little Rock.
Jon,
I don't think it's realistic to assume that this is a cost-saving measure. Only an out-of-control ego. :)
Steve
Lane,
Hear, hear! Absolutely. :)
Steve
Marchel,
They work for us but they call all the shots and we can't do a thing about it. :)
Steve
Todd,
That's a good point. Wonder how it's structured. :)
Steve
Wallace,
Agreed. That's why it's all the more aggravating. :)
Steve
Gary,
That's a day historians can record as an important date. :)
Steve
Mike,
I agree. :)
Steve
She must be pretty optimistic about winning her election. You don't make that kind of move without having a healthy ego. I hope I am in a postions to say "Oh how the mighty have fallen".
Lois,
I think she is pretty much unstoppable except to boot her from the Speaker's chair. :)
Steve
Steve...I thought that I had heard something about this. I need to make a couple phone calls!!!
Vern,
Do you have the power to cancel her lease? That would be great. :)
Steve
I still think we should give all of the Congress Critters a set budget and let them run their offices from it. They can keep what is left... I think they'd be less generous with "their" money then.
Steve,
Vote them out and replace them with whom, another set of power abusers? I keep saying we need change, but change from a higher source that will come I might add! One that will satisfy all the people all the time.
Lane,
Good idea. Let's say they get to keep half of what they don't spend - might spend even less. :)
Steve
Dee,
There are people who do understand what needs to be done, and I am encouraged by a new crop of condidates. :)
Steve