Sigh :/ Way to keep your eye on the ball, boys. Here are highlights of a sword fight between the staffs of Senators Chambliss and Heller as reported by Meridith Shiner at Roll Call. Congressman Broun also got brought into it.
- As part of the biennial Senate office lottery, junior members are obligated to show their office suites to more senior members, who then have 24 hours to decide whether to claim that space as their own.
- Heller’s office suite — which he inherited after the scandal-fueled resignation of Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. — may be particularly attractive to other senators because its floor plan includes a larger-than-average member office.
- Heller staffers repeatedly tried to keep them from seeing the spacious member office.
- A visit from Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ staffers was particularly contentious.
- When asked to see Heller’s suite, Chambliss had not yet announced his decision to retire in 2014. Heller Chief of Staff Mac Abrams joked that Chambliss’ staff should ask Rep. Paul Broun if he would like the suite.
- According to some sources told about the exchange, Heller’s chief of staff then offered $10,000 in campaign contributions from the senator’s PAC if Chambliss declined to take the suite.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“Heller’s chief of staff then offered $10,000 in campaign contributions from the senator’s PAC ..”
Wait. Does a COS or any staffer, for that matter, have the authority to make such an expenditure from such an account? Is this legal?
Subsequently, isn’t this technically bribery?
It sounds more like a traded player offering a gift to another so he can keep his number. It’s just playground stuff anyway.
Less than two years to go, and Chambliss is seeking to change office suites? I guess office redecoration is a good a place as any to spend a chunk of no longer needed campaign funds.
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