The idea of ​​building dormitories for members of Congress is back. here's why



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Evie Fordham | Reporter on politics and health

The difficulties faced by some members of Congress to afford housing are again the source of the comments of November 8 Democratic Republican New York Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the issue of rent.

Her comments on "wasting" money until she started receiving her $ 174,000 congressional salary in January revived the debate on the issue, which included proposals to allocate fees. members of Congress or even to build a dormitory.

"I have three months without pay before becoming a member of Congress, so how can I get an apartment?" Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times earlier in November. "These little things are very real. … I'm really running away and hoping it will take me to January. "

Ocasio-Cortez's comments met with mixed reactions, according to reports that she would have made more savings than her average millennial counterpart, MarketWatch said. But the young incoming Congressman spoke of the dilemmas that Congress members, especially those with families to support, can find themselves in. (RELATED: These new members of Congress want health insurance for all)

A Tuesday column of Politico magazine titled "Want to drain the swamp? Build a congress in a dormitory "said that when politicians need to find ways to afford housing in Washington, DC and their home district, middle-class citizens are no longer in the job.

"We hear stories of members literally living in their offices – among them, outgoing House Speaker, Paul Ryan – in order to save money, or other representatives living in houseboats or in group homes resembling floating houses, "writes columnist Rory Cooper.

Speaker Paul Ryan leaves his office at the US Capitol on July 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Puce Somodevilla / Getty Images

Speaker Paul Ryan leaves his office at the US Capitol on July 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Puce Somodevilla / Getty Images

Senate Republicans set up beds in the Strom Thurmond Hall of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC on November 12, 2003. REUTERS / William Philpott

Senate Republicans set up beds in the Strom Thurmond Hall of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC on November 12, 2003. REUTERS / William Philpott

Cooper pleaded for a very specific plan including building the dormitory on a "mostly useless park" in the Capitol Complex and the possibility of assigning bipartite roommates.

"You're much less likely to attack a fellow cable group member if you're going to share cooking tasks with him later in the evening," Cooper wrote.

The column also pointed out that a congressional dormitory would prevent politicians from accepting offers from lobbyists and others living in difficult conditions.

Legislators have already weighed in on the issue. They understand:

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