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Fortenberry’s seniority earns him a bigger Washington office

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BY ASTRID MUNN / For the Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Nov 21, 2008 - 12:42:31 am CST

WASHINGTON — With seniority comes better office space.

And with two terms now under his belt, U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-1st, landed a bigger office on Capitol Hill this week.

“We’re very excited,” said Kelly Lungren McCollum, Fortenberry’s chief of staff.

Story Photo
Jeff Fortenberry (LJS file)

Fortenberry’s current office is on the fifth floor of the Longworth House Building and faces south, away from the Capitol.

The new office is just down the hall but offers more space and a view of the Washington Monument, Lungren McCollum said. The new office has 1,095 square feet — 250 feet more than his old office.

Fortenberry scored the office through a weeklong process that is based on seniority and trickles down to a lottery.

When his turn came Tuesday, his staff of nine was given 20 minutes to select an office.

Fortunately, Lungren McCollum said, his top two picks were still available. Fortenberry ultimately chose the bigger Longworth office over a space in the Canon House building because of its convenient location.

“It’s close to his committee rooms,” she said. “It’s in the middle of the three House office buildings and it’s directly across from the Capitol, which is good for when he votes.”

Members of Congress will be packing up and moving throughout December and early January. Fortenberry’s moving date has not been confirmed, she said.

Former Journal Star intern Astrid Munn is working in Washington this semester as a Scripps Howard Foundation Wire reporter. Reach her at (202) 326-9866 or shws1@shns.com.


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Ellen Wiederholt wrote on November 21, 2008 7:06 am:
" A Republican from Nebraska, I am sure he will be "conservative" when it comes to furnishing this office that has as much square feet as my house. "

 WCG wrote on November 21, 2008 8:03 am:
" Great. Now he has more room in which to do nothing. Where has Fortenberry been as his fellow Republicans were busy destroying America in recent years? At least Sen. Hagel objected to PART of Bush's disastrous policies. As far as I can tell, Fortenberry has been a complete waste of space, so why does he need more of it? "

 Late ODay wrote on November 21, 2008 8:06 am:
" He's also a member of a shrinking party with shrinking influence. What good is a "big" office if your job in Washington is the equivalent of passing out hot towels in the Congressional restroom? "

 Gerard Harbison wrote on November 21, 2008 8:37 am:
" Congressman Fortenberry voted against the massive and apparently ineffectual $700 billion bailout, earning him kudos for his fiscal conservatism. He's been an effective advocate in the House for his district. Of course, the usual partisans are out naysaying, but if you actually examine his record, he's done a fine job. "

 Seniority counts wrote on November 21, 2008 8:42 am:
" Why, as a people, can't we be happy for someone when they work hard for something and earn it? I like Rep Fortenberry. I am pleased for him that he gets a bigger office. Someone has to have it. Why not him? "

 GoodBad wrote on November 21, 2008 8:49 am:
" Proud of him for voting against the bailout but he sure needs to change direction on Iraq. War without raising taxes to pay for it, costing billions a month, is a bigger financial disaster. Why can't he see that? "

 whatever wrote on November 21, 2008 10:16 am:
" Whoopie. I believe this "lavish" office must be shared with his staff of 9. Not much space at all. "

 Why wrote on November 21, 2008 10:44 am:
" A true conservative would have declined a bigger, more lavish office and would have made a statement to that effect to the Washington bureaocracy. Obviously, Fortenberry is now becoming just one of the "old boys" in Washington, looking for any thing that makes his own life better. Shame on you Fortenbyby, you are not representing us when you take more for yourself. "

 To-Why wrote on November 21, 2008 12:48 pm:
" To Why: I suppose you live in the same house you were born in and didn't make any improvements! If you did, you would be selfish by your definition. He takes more office space not to be selfish and "make his life better", but to meet his needs to be a true representative of Nebraska. As far as him becoming one of the "old boys", well, he is getting older and he is getting more experience to get the things us Nebraskans want passed. If this is a bad thing I want to know what you think is good? He gets back to Nebraska every opportunity he gets. He meets with his constituants as often as he can. He is representing Nebraska values very well. "

 Outside the Box wrote on November 21, 2008 1:29 pm:
" Only in Washington does it take a "weeklong process" to assign offices. "

 Election Realities wrote on November 21, 2008 1:40 pm:
" You know, Fort won re-election by a 70/30 margin, meaning that almost half of the registered *democrat* voters voted to re-elect him. That's definitely a mandate, regardless of how much it pains you to admit it. "

 Fishy wrote on November 21, 2008 4:38 pm:
" I cannot people want someone like "Fort" to represent us here in Nebraska. He has been in Nebraska less years than my 14 year old child who was born here. Fortenberry is from Louisiana. Do you think he is here to really help Nebraska? "

 D-best wrote on November 21, 2008 8:01 pm:
" I think it is great that someone wanted to come to Nebraska because it held the same values as theirs. And now he is proving it. I have lived in several states and always compared the other places back to Nebraska and always wanted to get back here. Gee, I can't see him be a carpet bagger like Hillary is to New York. Her only purpose was for Pres. "

 E Jr wrote on November 22, 2008 3:35 pm:
" I am happy that he is able to secure a bigger office. However, I am not happy that he does not represent my values when it comes to the issues. I cannot think of one vote of his that I have agreed with. When do I get a turn at having someone in Nebraska represents my interests in Washington? Maybe Dennis Kucinich will get a bigger office, too. "

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