Opinion
Scrooges in the Senate? Offices plainly decorated
By: Jeff Dufour
Editor at Large/Columnist, "Yeas & Nays"
12/19/08 12:05 AM EST
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The office of Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., is one of the few on Capitol Hill we spoke with boasted of their office decorations, making sure that we knew of their 15-foot tree (Real? “Of course!”) and wreaths on every door. His staff admits, however, that the economy played a role in their downsized decor.
“It’s toenails in comparison this year,” a DeMint spokeswoman told us. “Last year we had a decorations war with Senator [Jeff] Sessions’ office across the hall, complete with model trains and people dressed as elves and Santa. But with the economic downturn, we had to scale it back a bit.”
Another who downsized due to the economy was Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who forewent decorations altogether. But you won’t hear him saying, “Bah, humbug”: His office donated their decoration funds to a needy family in Oklahoma.
Some other senators decided to decorate by incorporating characteristics from their home states. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, has “bulbs hanging on the ceiling, a couple of wreathes and a sign saying ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ ” (or “Merry Christmas” in Hawaiian).
“All the same as last year,” a staffer told us.
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., has a tree and asked staffers to bring ornaments that reflect various areas and sports teams famous to their state.
Sen. Richard Durbin’s, D-Ill., decor covers two holidays, having both a Christmas tree and a Menorah in his office.
Some offices, such as those of Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., kept things to a minimum, opting for just a few poinsettias. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., has poinsettias as well, but added wreaths and silver garland wrapped in white lights, something to “share a little holiday cheer with constituents and visitors,” according to an aide.
But perhaps the economy is not the only reason for the small amount of decorations. Sens. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., John Sununu, R-N.H., and Ted Stevens, R-Alaska — all of whom went down to defeat this year — have no decorations.
“We’re in a period of transition,” an aide to Dole said.
