In the News

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — As the government shutdown drags on, the office of the U.S. congressman representing the Space Coast is working overtime and without pay to serve constituents and direct them to the services they need.

Julia Bowers, the casework director in U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos’ office in Viera, leads a seven-member team.

Since the government shutdown, the team is getting many more phone calls, visits and emails from Haridopolos’ constituents in Florida's 8th District with questions and concerns about services offered by federal agencies, Bowers said.

Rep. Mike Haridopolos has been averaging 15,000 steps a day during the shutdown, and his years of being a history teacher have come in handy.

With staff-led tours of the Capitol on pause until the government reopens, the Florida Republican has led more than 20 tours of his own this month.

“As a former history teacher, I love doing them, actually,” he said. “I love telling people the story of the building of the Capitol, some of the famous figures.”

The reaction from his constituents? The House floor seems bigger on TV.