Public Vs. Private Barbershop
The difference is instructive. Douglas French at Mises' The Circle Bastiat posts on the difference:
The Senate and the House of Representatives each have a barbershop for member use. In 1994, the House barbershop was privatized by Republicans who had taken over control of the House that year for the first time in decades. The Senate shop has remained a government operation.Before it was turned into a private enterprise, the House shop employed 16 barbers, each of whom received federal pensions and benefits. Now the shop has three employees, one of which is part-time.
"We've gone through a lot of changes, with members going back to their districts on the weekends and fewer customers because of the extra security that the House has put up after 9/11, but we're all self-employed," long-time House barber Joe Quattrone says. "Money's not everything. I love coming to work every day. Would you rather go to a job you hated for $50,000 or one you liked for $40,000?"
The House shop actually turned a profit last year, despite occupying an inferior location in the Rayburn House Office Building, farther from the two adjoining House buildings than is the Senate's barbershop.
Meanwhile, the Senate Hair Care Services, the formal name for the Senate barbershop, with its 11 employees, required a $300,000 taxpayer bailout to keep its barber pole lighted, despite not having to pay the government a dime in rent.
Having the advantage of government subsidy, one might assume senators pay less for their haircuts and shaves than House members. Not hardly. While the Senate barbershop charges $23 for a trim with water but no shampoo and $20 for a shave, the House barbershop charges $17 and $10.
And remember, as one of the commenters noted, "There are only 100 Senators, but 435 Congress-critters."
Why is the gov't in competition with private industry? Can't they just go to regular hair salons>
KateC at March 22, 2012 5:24 PM
First Q: Why did they even have a barber shop/hair stylist set up in the first place?
Second Q: Why couldn't both houses share the facilities?
Third Q: I can understand the desire and fairness of keeping the the 30 year Congressional Elevator operator until he made pension. But how does a Senator qualify for the congressional pension system are vested after five (5) years of service. A full pension is available to Members 62 years of age with 5 years of service?
Jim P. at March 22, 2012 11:51 PM
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