$2,200 for coffee in one month.
That's an eye-opener and the amount one member of Congress spent for latte just months before the federal government was forced to shave 85 billion dollars from the budget
By congressional standards, upscale 'wining and dining' it's not. But in the months leading up to forced belt tightening, lawmakers had no incentive to cut their own perks.
Expenditure reports obtained by the Washington Guardian show in the final three months of 2012, the offices of House Republican leaders spent nearly $30,000 on ‘supplies.’
More than 80 percent of that, $24,000 went for food and beverages at places such as Dunkin Donuts, Whole Foods, PF Chang's Restaurant and grocery stores.
House Speaker John Boehner's Office enjoys coffee, spending more than $2,200 on 'cups of Joe' just in the month of November.
Republican Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy's office seemingly ate like no tomorrow, dropping nearly $2,500 at the Qdoba Mexican Grill, $2,300 for Chicken Out Catering and another $2,600 at a Buca di Beppo Restaurant.
McCarthy's office told the Guardian "we have been planning for the cuts as a result of the sequester and have made the necessary adjustments to our budget."
"It's the absolute height of hypocrisy for Congress to call for budget cuts, yet they are living lavishly giving their staff bonuses and really not taking any sort of pay cut," stated David Williams with Taxpayers Protection Alliance.
Democratic lawmakers during the same period spent tens of thousands on rental cars and nearly ten grand more to attend an emergency management convention.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spent more than $1,100 on office supplies.
The end of year spending spree was capped off with bonuses, according to CNN, Democrats and Republicans awarded congressional aides two-and-a-half million dollars worth of cash bonuses."
"It shows a disconnect between the members of Congress and they people they represent," believes Community College of Baltimore County John Dedie.
American's are taking note, a recent Gallup poll found the job approval rating for Congress stuck at 14 percent, near an all-time low.
What perks do you think your member of Congress should cut out? Let us know on our Facebook page.
There's other ways lawmakers have been taking care of themselves and you can read about that by going to the link to the Washington Guardian.
