Dem calls for closing lawmaker gym, sauna during shutdown

Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) is calling for the gym and sauna used by lawmakers to be closed while the government is shut down.

Foster introduced legislation on Sunday that would close the gym and sauna that is reserved for members of Congress.

Foster’s reasoning in introducing the legislation is that representatives should be focusing on ending the partial government shutdown and nothing else.

{mosads}”During the Trump Shutdown, not only are Members still able to access the taxpayer-funded gym, sauna, and steam room while tens of thousands of federal employees remain furloughed, but janitorial staff are still required to clean the gym and restock it with towels and other ‘essential items,'” Foster wrote in a statement announcing his Shutdown Prioritization Act proposal.

The partial government shutdown began Friday at midnight when Congress was unable to reach an agreement on an end of year spending bill.

Currently, Democrats and Republicans are divided on how much money to allot for border security demanded by President Trump. Trump has said he will not sign a bill that does not include at least $5 billion for a border wall.