Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Good optics

While engaged in the consumption of great amounts of gin, John Boehner has his other priorities in predictable order during the shutdown.

Head Start programs have been shuttered, small businesses can’t get loans and hundreds of thousands of federal government employees are furloughed. But the exclusive gyms available only to members of Congress have remained open throughout the shutdown.

A House aide confirmed to ThinkProgress that the House member’s gym is open. The House gym features a swimming pool, basketball courts, paddleball courts, a sauna, a steam room and flat screen TVs. While towel service is unavailable, taxpayers remain on the hook for cleaning and maintenance, which has been performed daily throughout the shutdown. There are also costs associated with the power required to heat the pools and keep the lights on.

According to the aide, the decision to keep the gym open — even while other critical government services were shelved — came directly from Speaker Boehner’s office. Meanwhile, the staff gym available to Congressional staff has been closed.

6 comments:

I fought the lawn. And the lawn won. said...

Hmmm... It's always fascinating to me to hear conservatives talking about "entitlement"...

What they really feel is that THEY are entitled to special consideration and special treatment, but those from the lower classes are not.

Athenawise said...

I'll bet they wear senatorial togas in the steam room.

Anonymous said...

They're not opposed to entitlement...they just feel it should be restricted to the "right people."

pansypoo said...

life guard?

Mungencakes said...

Does anyone really expect Boehner to turn off the Congressional tanning beds?

Mr Hedley Bowes said...

Trickle down.