$8 million for new House gym?

If only House Democrats like Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) spent just as much energy trying to get us out of Iraq as they do trying to renovate the House gym, we might actually get somewhere.  Shockingly, this excerpt is actually true:

Pelosi is set to square off against Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), the power-lifting chairman of the House gym committee.

Abercrombie is touting his efforts to secure funding in the legislativebranch spending bill to begin an estimated $8 million renovation of theHouse gym. The project is personally important to Abercrombie, who setsa yearly goal to bench-press 200 pounds more than his age, now 69.

Pelosi and other Democratic leaders are not eager for amultimillion-dollar renovation of the congressional members-only gym tobe one of the first accomplishments of the Democratic majority. Theyworry that freshman Democrats could be attacked on the campaign trailnext year for approving a fancy new gym for themselves after winningoffice.

There actually is a House Gym Committee.  It consists of two lawmakers, one Republican and one Democrat (so this is not just a Democrat problem!).  When Democrats won majority last November, Abercrombie knew he would take over as chairman.

As a fitness fanatic myself, I can understand the need for the House to have a fitness center.  But $8 million?  Hilton and Marriott hotels put together great fitness rooms in their resorts for a microscopically small fraction of that price.  If anything, clean the place out, buy new equipment and maybe give it a new paint job.  But again, $8 million?  We did not vote the Democrats into power for this.  Their jobs are to end the war in Iraq, fight corruption and hold Bush accountable.

So please, Abercrombie, don't waste the Madam Speaker's time by trying to fight her on this meaningless issue.

Comments

[granny]

Revolting unabashed self indulgence -UGH!

[Dano]

For $8 Mllion, the place better come with thos new fangled Cranial-Rectal Inversion Reversal sets. That way, they can get their heads out of their A$$.