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WASHINGTON — Two House Democrats are going after the congressional dumbbells.
Reps. Patrick Murphy of Florida and Bill Foster of Illinois demanded Wednesday the shutdown of the House gym, which has stayed open even while much of the federal government has closed.
They said it's outrageous that lawmakers enjoy access to their "exclusive gym and spa" while other Americans are making sacrifices because of the government shutdown.
House Democrats have a new strategy to force their fellow members of Congress to feel the pain of the shutdown — stripping them of their gym privileges.
Such a move would not just block members from burning carbs, though. It would also prevent the members who sleep in their offices from availing themselves of the showers that keep them from offending.
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.
“Members of Congress should not enjoy access to their exclusive gym and spa while Capitol police go without pay, children are being turned away from Head Start and veterans are left wondering if their benefits will come in the mail on November 1st,” said Foster.
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.
On Tuesday, the memorial on the National Mall became the symbol of the shutdown as vets who arrived on what are called "Honor Flights" ignored the barricades set up to try to shutter the outdoor tribute to the 16 million who served in World War II.
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.
As of the moment, two Democrats and two Republicans from the Chicago area have put out statements or otherwise confirmed that they'll do without while much of the federal government remains shut in a fight over Obamacare and related matters.