Of Mice, Pop Tarts: Congresswomen Who Bunk at the Office

They look to save money, avoid settling down
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 6, 2014 11:20 AM CDT
Of Mice, Pop Tarts: Congresswomen Who Bunk at the Office
In this Jan. 22, 2014 file photo, Rep. Kristi Noem, R-SD, speaks in Pierre to the South Dakota Senate.   (AP Photo/Chet Brokaw, File)

It's become fairly standard for some congressmen to spend both their days and nights in their offices. For what appears to be the first time, however, congresswomen are doing the same, the Wall Street Journal reports in a look at three House Republicans. "My poor staff, they have to get on the Metro, go home, get ready for bed, and I literally just go to bed," says office-sleeper Lynn Jenkins of Kansas. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington also sleep in their offices. The trio are saving time and money, but they're also keeping Washington life at arm's length. "It was never my goal to come to DC and be comfortable," says Noem.

That lack of creature comforts doesn't mean there aren't creatures. "I think my staff was surprised I did not like mice, because I come from a farm," says Noem. "I am not a fan of mice at all." And the lack of a kitchen means simple meals ranging from protein bars to Pop-Tarts. "It really is all the food groups," says Jenkins of her preference for the latter, along with ice cream. No female Democrats appear to have followed in their footsteps, notes the Journal, which puts the number of male office-dwellers at around two dozen. Gawker applauds the "actual, real-life hobos" working on Capitol Hill. (More congresswoman stories.)

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