After Aaron Schock, House looks to curb wasteful office spending

Paul Singer | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The House is taking steps to prevent the profligate spending that chased Rep. Aaron Schock from office earlier this year.

TheWashington Post in February reported that the Illinois Republican congressman had redecorated his congressional office in the style of the Downton Abbey television show. A USA TODAY investigation discovered that Schock had spent more than $100,000 on prior office renovations, including marble counters and hardwood floors.

Those stories touched off a flurry of other revelations, including that Schock had used improper charter flights and accepted reimbursement for mileage he could not have driven.

Schock ultimately repaid $40,000 for the renovation of his congressional office and $88,000 for mileage reimbursements , and he quit Congress in March. The Justice Department is investigating Schock's expenditures.

The House Administration Committee — which oversees the office budgets Members of Congress are given to run their offices — plan to consider new rules Wednesday that would directly address some of Schock's expenses. The rules would clarify that:

Use of a campaign vehicles cannot be reimbursed, and only miles driven, not fuel purchases, can be reimbursed from the office account.

Charter aircraft cannot be used when flying to and from Washington, D.C., and any flight over $7,500 must be approved in advance by the committee.

Any furniture decorating expense over $5,000 must be approved by the committee.

Members of the House are provided annual taxpayer-funded accounts to pay for staff, office expenses, travel and other costs. The House Administration Committee provides detailed rules for managing those funds, which range from about $1.5 million to $3 million a year, depending on the size of the congressional district and its distance from Washington.