DC is expensive. It should come as no surprise that the nation’s capital has some of the most expensive restaurants, hotels, and housing. However, with so many government departments based here, it’s costing taxpayers more than what’s right.
Rule 72 Initiative is focused on moving many of the departments out of Washington DC so that it becomes more cost-effective. Right now, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, and more are all in DC. But what if they moved to Idaho, Michigan, and Nebraska respectively?
By comparing the cost and quality of some of the different aspects of life, you can see just how costly Washington DC is.
Restaurant Meals in DC
Plenty of government agents go out to lunch and dinner on the dime of taxpayers. The cost of the food averages out to be higher than many other cities. For example, a basic lunchtime menu item within the business district averages $14. The cost of dinner can be considerably more. The same lunchtime menu item would only be $13 in Tampa, Florida or $11 in Lincoln, Nebraska. That money can add up quickly over the course of the year multiplied out by the number of government agents going out to a meal.
Professional Sports Teams
The average major city in the United States has several sports teams. In Washington DC, there is the Washington Nationals, the Washington Wizards, the Washington Redskins, the Washington Spirit, the Washington Mystics, and even the Washington Capitals. This covers all of the major sports, including soccer. However, the big difference is in the cost of the tickets. The cost for tickets in Tampa, Detroit, New York City, and others can be considerably less than those of tickets for the same game in Washington DC. This means that when senators and lobbyists get together, they are paying for tickets at higher prices than what is necessary.
Private Country Clubs
There are approximately 22 private country clubs throughout the metropolitan Washington DC area. It should come as no surprise that there are many senators and representatives who have country club memberships. The reason that there are so many country clubs is because the government is supporting them. There are only three country clubs in Detroit and only four in Boise – demonstrating that the average American doesn’t utilize a country club.
Hotel Rates
The cost of hotels in Washington DC is high – considerably higher than other parts of the country. This means that when people fly in to discuss issues with those in the Department of Education or the Department of Homeland security, the government is paying an average of $272 per night. Even New York City with all of its tourism, only averages $225 per night.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Washington DC is present, making it easy to get to the various locations without having to use a car or pay for parking. Fares are comparable to other metropolitan cities, such as Detroit, New York City, and Chicago. However, you also have to look at the number of government agents that aren’t using public transportation. Many may be using their own vehicle, which results in taxpayers paying for the gas mileage.
Housing Costs
Even housing costs are escalated throughout Washington DC. The average two-bedroom home averages $599,000 in Washington DC while rent for a two-bedroom apartment is a little over $2000. The median home price in the United States for a two-bedroom home is $180,900. In Idaho, the average rent is $839 while in Michigan, it’s $918.
CPI Around the Country
The CPI in the Washington-Arlington area is up 0.7 percent since March and 2.5% over prior year. This is a higher level of growth than anywhere else in the country, showing that the cost of living as a whole is considerable.
The locality adjustment rate in DC is 28%, which is a considerable increase in comparison to the rest of the country, simply to deal with these expenses.
You’re certainly not eating at the best restaurants in town and staying at 5-star hotels every time you go out of town. When’s the last time you went to a country club or spent over $600,000 for a house? Taxpayers like YOU are the ones paying for the politicians to live like kings. We cannot allow our government to keep doing this!
As a voter, you get to say how government spending is controlled. Rule 72 Initiative focuses on draining the swamp by moving some of the departments out of Washington DC. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about how your voice can be heard.
The Rule 72 Initiative is hard at work to repeal the law (Rule 72) that prohibits moving functions of the federal government away from Washington, D.C. If these ideas sound like a positive step towards truly draining the swamp, here are some ways to get involved:
