Senators Propose Closing State Offices to Save on Budget

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40m for 700 offices? I maybe be a math retard but does that equal out to only about 50,000 per office? That doesn't sound like a big enough sum of money to worry about cutting when we're spending billions on crap from the big pork barrel.

Jeff of TX 5:49PM May 31, 2011

-Sen. Ben Nelson,is "Thinking About" closing some of those state workrooms
-as he "ATTEMPTS" to impose a 5 percent spending cut
-It’s something that "NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT"
-Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, agrees. Pruning senator’s budgets “MAY" mean that you don’t have as many offices in your state.
It is not very affirmative language: thinking about, attempts to impose a cut, needs to be looked at, may mean.
How about is closing, imposed a cut, looked at and determined, means that you will have less offices.
Until these guys and girls grow a set and use affirmative language rather than mussy weak kneed drivel, we are screwed.

borntobepolitical of TX 5:43PM May 31, 2011

Why so many offices?

John Holladay of TX 5:35PM May 31, 2011

Poor Ben, desperately trying to save his reelection. We Nebraskan's saw the true side of Ben in his Obamacare meltdown. Sorry Ben, you better look for a new job.

Brantmn of NE 5:29PM May 31, 2011

first of all the thirty-five cents per household is a misguided fact because sixty percent of Americans do not pay income tax. what should happen is all pensions for retired congressmen should be put on hold immediately and until we are completely out of debt. we don't have the money to pay them, because of them. then their should be one office in Washington and one office in the state that they represent. all congressmen,and congresswomen, should be paid agriculture wages ,(same as the illegal immigrants) until we are rid of the illegal immigrants. the same should hold true for the president and all of his administration, also no czar should be paid with taxpayer monies.

otis k of MS 5:29PM May 31, 2011

...$40MM across 700 office nationwide is just over $4,750/month, per office. I don't know how many people commenting actually rent their own office space, but for a middle-of-the-road office (read, nothing fancy) in a metropolitan area, that's a pretty good deal.
That said, if the senators can stand to do without some of those additional offices that would be great, it all counts toward reducing bloat.
However, saving even half of it ($20MM annually) isn't even an accounting error to the folks in Washington who are dealing in terms of billions and trillions of dollars.

Fred of TX 5:19PM May 31, 2011

Well Sen Nelson shouldnt be worried to much about how folks think of him as his chances of getting reelected in Nebraska are pretty slim, after the Cornhusker Kickback and all. 9 offices in New York for a Freshmen Senator whats that all about? If the Senate wanted to save moeny both Senators from each state would share offices as the constituents could talk to aides for both at the same time, that makes way to much sense though.

Theron Ballard of NE 4:58PM May 31, 2011

Washington has to change in order for this country to move forward. No more lobbyists, no more backroom deals. Serve the people for God's sake!!
that is all

Dante Hicks of NJ 4:43PM May 31, 2011

Shouldn't there be 101 offices instead of 700? 1 for each member and 1 huge one for headquarters?

Easy thinking of CA 4:33PM May 31, 2011

$40 million may be more than needed but it only amounts to less than $0.35 per average family. I suspect they want to have less staff to field complaints about the real wasteful spending.

Roger Ansted of TX 4:23PM May 31, 2011