he Senate, unlike the House, has not turned private. Its food services, for example, continue to be provided by the institution, not vendors.
To compare the two systems, a totally unscientific test was conducted, based on the consumption of an American standard: a hamburger (in this case with mustard and ketchup) on each side of the Capitol. The burgers looked alike, and the buns could have come from the same bakery. The House burger seemed a bit juicier, but a bigger difference was price. The Senate product in the Dirksen cafeteria cost $1.90. The privatized version in the Rayburn cafeteria was $2.75.
The taste-tester, being a true burger lover but also very frugal, decided the added moisture was worth something-but not 85 cents.
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