The Senate barbershop -- which opened in 1859 -- provides government
subsidized haircuts, shaves and shoe shines to the political elite (most senators are multi-millionaires). Over the the past fifteen
years, it has cost taxpayers over five million dollars. Last year the salon needed a $300,000 bailout from the Senate coffers to cover its costs (the head barber earns ~$80,000/year -- well above the annual income $28,050 of average U.S. barbers).
On
Tuesday, the Senate barbershop’s deficit problems became a late night
punch line, as comedian Jay Leno spun a positive perspective on the
salon’s monetary losses: “The United States Senate is now fighting to keep open the Senate barbershop...it loses $350,000 a year,” Leno said on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. “You know what that makes it? The most successful government program ever!”
By the way, the House of Representatives has its own barbershop as well, known as the Capitol Barber. However, after being privatized in the mid 90s, the House barbershop is no longer funded by taxpayers.
No comments:
Post a Comment