Representative Chuck FleischmannELECTION DATES
April 5 — Qualifying deadlineAug. 2 — Primary electionNov. 6 — General election
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann on Monday said he would return nearly $80,000 in unused office funds to the U.S. Treasury, capitalizing on a campaign promise to cut federal spending.
“I challenge other members of Congress to do this because it’s the right thing to do,” Fleischmann said during a lunchtime speech at the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club. “It’s the people’s money.”
Fleischmann promoted the occasion as a practice-what-I-preach moment, encouraging media coverage and flashing a massive $79,693.90 mock check as he made the announcement. The money represents 5 percent of Fleischmann’s annual office budget, which is about $1.4 million.
Still, Fleischmann didn’t cut everything. Several of the rookie Republican congressman’s top staffers received pay increases last year, records show.