After Matt Drudge busted the Department of the Treasury for trying to hire a contract humorist for the Bureau of Public Debt (New motto: 11.6 trillion reasons to smile!) senators were outraged http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senator-quashes-treasurys-bid-for-humorist-2009-07-17.html over the waste. It also came after lawmakers gave the Social Security Administration a whipping for having a $700,000 managers’ retreat at a posh Phoenix resort.
But let the branch of government without sin cast the first stone.
In it’s latest job circular, the U.S. Senate is advertising for a part-time hair stylist:
PART-TIME HAIR STYLIST – US Senate seeks a Part-time Hair Stylist for full service salon.
Candidate must be experienced in styling, coloring, & cutting techniques for women, men & all
textures & lengths of hair. Barber or cosmetology license required & 3-5 years exp desired.
Salary: $8,944 base plus 45% commission. Parking/metro & federal benefits.
If Vice President Biden were still on the Hill one assumes the post would be full time, but as it is, the selected applicant will be a backup for the Senate salon, which is open to the public but also provides emergency coiffeurs for harried senators. There have been efforts to get rid of the salon in the past, but it’s a favorite of many of the 100 TV stars in the Senate who don’t mind their constituents paying federal benefits and insurance to have constant access to hair care.
Before Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. intones: “I understand the need for motivation in the workplace, but I think we have a greater motivation to save the taxpayers some money”about the quashing of a contract to draw a few cartoons for an agency newsletter he might consider the perks of his own job.
