Net Spending Cuts, Everywhere Except Where They Were Promised

Matt Welch | June 19, 2009

Via Instapundit comes this banally infuriating Politico story about belt-loosening in Washington:

While businesses across the country are cutting back, members of the House saw their own office budgets increase by an average of 7 percent between 2008 and 2009.

House officials say the increase is because of — not in spite of — the nation's economic woes.

If I can wade briefly into unscientific anecdote, a recent West coast swing through Portland, Palm Springs and Los Angeles revealed a startling proliferation of "for lease" signs and noticeable decraptitude since the last time setting foot in all three; meanwhile here in D.C. gentrification seems to roar on uninterrupted. 

Radley Balko wrote about "Washington's wealth boom" in January and February.

Comments

Congressman McDemermott|6.19.09 @ 11:28AM|#

For a good time call Liz
[phone]

jtuf|6.19.09 @ 11:37AM|#

If I can wade briefly into unscientific anecdote, a recent West coast swing through Portland, Palm Springs and Los Angeles revealed a startling proliferation of "for lease" signs and noticeable decraptitude since the last time setting foot in all three;

I just got back from a vacation in Manhattan. The number of "for lease" signs was worrying.

The Angry Optimist|6.19.09 @ 11:50AM|#

As D.A. Ridgley said, when you live in the Roman Empire, there are benefits to living in Rome.

kc|6.19.09 @ 11:54AM|#

wasn't there a blog in the past week about more of this year's college grads heading to Washington to get jobs? While some may think they are answering O's challenge to "service", I think it's because the private sector just isn't hiring. Self interest rules!

|6.19.09 @ 11:55AM|#

five US offices (down from six) layoffs everywhere except DC, where I seem to be travelling weekly to train new hires.

|6.19.09 @ 11:55AM|#

At least Imperial Rome had purges and occasionally removed Senators.

|6.19.09 @ 12:04PM|#

I may be slow here so help me out. Does every representative get $1.5 million a year to run his/her office? Hot damn.

I think this calls for a Blackadder quote:

"...but there are many other factors to be considered: stamp duty, window tax, swamp insurance, hen food, dog biscuits, cow ointment; the expenses are endless."

The Angry Optimist|6.19.09 @ 12:14PM|#

well, Pro, look on the bright side. We can at least all have sweet Roman names now.

Dibs Quintus Tarquitius Ralla.

Longus Dongus|6.19.09 @ 12:23PM|#

"well, Pro, look on the bright side. We can at least all have sweet Roman names now."

Great!

|6.19.09 @ 12:49PM|#

The banality of entropic decline.

Paul|6.19.09 @ 12:50PM|#

Public sector unions gotta get paid. Yes, I'm looking at you UAW.

Shelby|6.19.09 @ 12:53PM|#

Amazing, isn't it? When D.C. sucks a trillion more dollars out of the rest of the country for its own use, suddenly there's a lot more money in D.C.! Meanwhile, here in Portland, I have to go lower the rate on my "For Rent" sign.

|6.19.09 @ 2:14PM|#

Unless Hollywood has been lying to me all these years, it ain't Rome if there ain't an orgy scene.

Sixburgh|6.19.09 @ 2:16PM|#

Yeah, well all their sports teams totally suck. So there.

Brendon Carr|6.20.09 @ 9:07AM|#

The Capitals totally suck? Or is the National Hockey League no longer a sport?

|6.20.09 @ 9:14AM|#

Read the Forgotten Man to see what is coming.

Roosevelt bloated govt and govt regulations and put the private sector into a depression for 10 years. Only the coming of WW II got the private sector out of the Depression (the public sector was doing just fine), and yes, was important in Roosevelt's getting his third term. Talk about a piece of luck for FDR.

BTW, Roosevelt did anything necessary to get votes to stay in office. He jettisoned programs and people which threatened his own popularity.

And, Roosevelt did not have the huge debts and health and pension obligations we face.

If this ends well, we will all be surprised. Has anybody got a plan to wherein the US Govt realistically meets its financial obligation?

|6.20.09 @ 9:29AM|#

BTW, Roosevelt did anything necessary to get votes to stay in office. He jettisoned programs and people which threatened his own popularity.

In other words, he was a politician

|6.20.09 @ 5:12PM|#

I'll go along with it if I get to call myself Nero Octavius Remus Caesar.

JB|6.21.09 @ 6:44PM|#

I know many government workers in the DC area and most of them have gotten raises.