There weren't many GOP freshman in 2008 so Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT) was one of the only ones who gained attention for camping out in his office. In fact, he created a personalized video series called "Cotside Chats" to go along with his routine. In 2010, a lot more GOP freshmen are taking after Chaffetz -- planning to save money by sleeping in the office while working in Washington. The Wall Street Journal reports:
Of the 94 incoming members of the House of Representatives, 90% are Republicans, nearly 40% have law degrees and about 35% have never before held elective office.
Oh, and at least 15% plan to bed down in their congressional offices.
It's the ultimate I'm-not-a-professional-politician statement, reminiscent of the 1994 midterm elections, when a GOP House takeover led to a surge in House sleepovers.
With voters again shunning Washington and fiscal excess, a number of incoming House members plan to demonstrate their scorn for both by camping out near their new desks. Many more are still undecided but may well join the sleep-sofa caucus.
"Since I'm here on a temporary basis, I don't see any need to have a permanent kind of residence," says Rep.-elect Joe Heck, a Nevada Republican, who was thinking roll-out cot when he looked at office space this month.