Chatting At Cocktail Parties

Despite sequestration, Congress is offering staffers courses on chatting at cocktail parties, managing their credit score and how to get a good night's sleep on the taxpayer's dime. In our Congressional Spotlight sponsored by CenturyLink, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is asking Democratic and Republican leaders to cut it out. In letters to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and others, Coburn says Congress needs to lead by example. He notes Congress gave itself a 72-percent budget increase in fiscal 2012, although it's done less work in Washington. He takes issue with the Capitol's on-site barber, shoe shine and gift shops.