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While food and airline safety inspectors stay home, national parks remain closed and basic scientific research grinds to a halt, a private gym reserved exclusively for members of the House of Representatives remains open.
A gym for Senators is also still open.
Though congress members pay small monthly fees, the gyms are run largely on taxpayer dollars.
Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11), along with Congressman Patrick Murphy (FL-18), introduced the Shutdown Prioritization Act (SPA) which would force Speaker Boehner to remove the Members only gym and spa from his list of essential House services.
The federal government may be closed, but the gyms for members of Congress are still open. That doesn't sit well with U.S. Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL, 11) and Patrick Murphy (D-FL, 18).
The government shutdown hasn't closed the private House and Senate gyms, which have been kept open along with their showers by the Architect of the Capitol, the agency responsible for the maintenance of the Capitol Complex.
Two House Democrats want the congressional gym closed until the shutdown impasse is over.
Reps. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) are circulating a letter that asks House Speaker John Boehner to deem the House spa non-essential for the duration of the shutdown.
WASHINGTON — A group of about 90 elderly veterans flew here from Chicago's Midway Airport on Wednesday and visited the National World War II Memorial — shutdown be darned.
The big budget standoff continues in Washington, but there is some news out of the Beltway: The number of local congressmen who aren't accepting pay until the fight is over is now at four.
Two Illinois House members have plans for the salary they will earn during the government shutdown — and it's not to keep the funds.
Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL,13) says he will donate his salary to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) announced he will be donating his pay earned during the government shutdown to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) released the following statement on the federal government shutdown:
“The hardworking people of the 11th Congressional District are tired of this kind of brinksmanship, and so am I. It’s time to end the political grandstanding and get to work to reach an agreement.