Dems: Shut down the House gym

Two Democrats want members of the House to work on their ripped abs and chiseled pecs somewhere other than the House gym during the government shutdown.

Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) introduced the Shutdown Prioritization Act or SPA Act, H.R. 3276, Tuesday. The bill would prohibit the Architect of the Capitol from operating the House gym for all members of the House — including nonvoting delegates from U.S. territories — during a lapse in appropriations. 

{mosads}The Architect of the Capitol has kept the House gym open during the nine days of the shutdown, which has allowed members to work out and use the gym showers. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and other members told The Hill this week that members need a place to relieve stress and clean up during the day.

But the shutdown has forced a temporary end to the gym’s laundering service, which has forced members to reuse towels.

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) is the only co-sponsor of the SPA Act.