Inside John Boehner's New Taxpayer-Funded Office After Leaving Congress
— -- He no longer has the security detail and the sweeping views of the Washington skyline from the speaker’s suite, but former House Speaker John Boehner hasn’t lost all the perks of the office.
The 65-year-old Ohio Republican, who left Congress last week, still gets a federally-funded office, thanks to an allowance established for former speakers more than 40 years ago.
Boehner can use the office “to facilitate the administration, settlement, and conclusion of matters pertaining to or arising out of” his service in Congress, according to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations –- but not for political purposes.
For now, the space -- which can be located anywhere in the United States -- is located in the Longworth House Office Building, where a single staffer -- Boehner’s former administrative operations director Amy Lozupone -- is working amidst boxes of documents, memorabilia and records moved out of the speaker’s office last week.
“As post congressional offices go, this is pretty bare bones,” said Dave Schnittger, a spokesman for Boehner who spent years working for the former speaker on Capitol Hill.
Former speakers have been entitled to federal offices since 1970, according to a 2014 report from the Congressional Research Service. The measure was passed two weeks before then-Speaker John McCormack, who served in the House for 43 years, left Congress.
The House authorized allowances for the Massachusetts Democrat to keep and run an office with two secretaries for two years after leaving Congress –- a perk extended to any future former speakers.
It's not clear how much Boehner's new office will cost, as money has yet to be appropriated for the next fiscal year. Funding for the office would come from the year-end omnibus package Congress needs to pass by Dec. 11, according to a House Appropriations Committee spokesperson.
Former Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, spent roughly $1.9 million on an office in Illinois from 2008-2012, and paid three staffers more than $100,000 each a year, according to the Chicago Tribune, which also found Hastert used the office to conduct private business.
Practically, the office will facilitate the archiving of Boehner’s records and serve as a resource to new House Speaker Paul Ryan and his growing team, as the Wisconsin Republican and his staff become accustomed to his many new responsibilities, Schnittger said.
Boehner can also use the space to meet with former colleagues on Capitol Hill on any lingering legacy items.
Boehner, who flew to Ohio last Friday after leaving Congress, hasn’t announced his post-congressional plans. Golf is all but certain; speaking engagements and a book deal are also possibilities.
To that end, he’s hired Robert Barnett, a prominent Washington lawyer who has helped many high-profile politicians ink book deals.
