New House bill would prohibit lawmakers from sleeping in offices

Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi introduced a bill Thursday to prohibit House members from sleeping overnight in their congressional offices as a way to save money.

The bill also would grant members a tax deduction for living expenses so they can better afford to make second homes in Washington during the work week while they’re away from their home districts.

Roughly 40 to 100 lawmakers currently sleep in their offices, Politico previously reported, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, who pulls out a cot each night in his Longworth House Office Building office. The House GOP’S second-in-line man, Majority Leader Kevin Mccarthy of California, also sleeps in his office.

Ryan’s office indicated Thursday the speaker would not support the bill over the provision granting a tax deduction to members for living expenses.

“The speaker does not believe members need additional taxpayer money for housing,” Ryan spokeswoman Ashlee Strong said in an email.

Thirty members of the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter on Dec. 13 to the House Ethics Committee raising questions over sanitation and the special privileges inherent in staying overnight in congressional offices.

It may even violate House rules and federal law, they argued.