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Dems say Senator's living arrangement may violate rules
Late last week, the news of Sen. Norm Coleman's economical living arrangement -- in the basement of an old friend and Republican political operative's house -- raised eyebrows. But the question remains: Does it raise any real issues? Democrats call the Republican senator's living arrangement in Washington, D.C. a "sweetheart deal" and said Monday it may violate ethics rules. "I have said before that Norm Coleman is in bed with special interests," said DFL party chairman Brian Melendez. "But now we know that he literally sleeps under the same roof that they do." The story broke last week in National Journal, which reported Coleman is paying $600 a month for an apartment owned by Jeff Larson, a partner in a political telemarketing company that has been paid $1.6 million by Coleman's political action committee. Other Republicans have paid Larson millions more. Monday, the DFL took issue with Coleman's description of his accommodations as "cramped" and said he was living in a far nicer and more spacious apartment than he suggested. "I rent it at market rate," Coleman said Friday. "It is a room -- and there's a no kitchen ... I can't fry an egg, I can't cook a bowl of soup." The DFL said the description doesn't pass the smell test. "Not only does it stink," Melendez said, "it probably violates senate ethics rules." The apartment is in the basement of a home that sold for $989,900. It's described on a real estate website as an "English basement with a media center, office space, gorgeous custom marble and oak bar plus an airy guest bedroom and bath." The DFL said an apartment like that, on Capitol Hill, should be going for $1100 or more per month. "You could go down to $950 for one room in a Capitol Hill English basement," Melendez said, based on DFL research of apartment listings. "But at least, according to the ad, you'd have to share it with somebody whose boyfriend sleeps over once or twice a week." Because Senators generally can't accept gifts worth more than a total of $100 from one person in one year, the DFL says Coleman's rent could be unethical. But Melendez stopped short of saying the party would file a formal complaint with the Senate ethics committee. Hamline University political analyst David Schultz said Democrat Al Franken's failure to pay taxes in 17 states ranks higher on the scandal scale. "People can understand the fact that you're supposed to pay your taxes," Schultz said. "And when Franken didn't pay his taxes, I think that became a problem." Coleman's spokesman Tom Steward reiterated Monday that Coleman is "paying fair market value for his cramped bedroom" and that their research shows the $600 rent is "comparable to other rent in the D.C. area."
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