July 28, 2010

Markey gives $117K in savings back to gov't

 Courtesy of the Greeley Tribune, July 28, 2010, by AP

DENVER — Rep. Betsy Markey, a Colorado Democrat who promotes her business savvy, says she's pinched pennies at her congressional office and is handing the savings back to the government.

Markey announced Wednesday that she's returned about $117,000 of her $1.5 million budget from last year. Members of Congress are assigned budgets to travel home to their districts and run offices in Washington and at home. The budgets vary by a Congress members' distance from Washington.

Markey spokesman Ben Marter says Markey's savings came in part from flying coach and cutting down on paper and toner in her offices. Markey has four offices in her Colorado district and 18 staffers between Colorado and Washington.