Does John Sullivan Really Sleep In His Office?

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- It seems everywhere you look there's another political commercial.  Many of those ads lead to questions.  For example, does John Sullivan really sleep in his office?

It's a 30-second ad that Congressman John Sullivan hopes shows how he pinches pennies.  The ad shows John Sullivan pumping up an inflatable mattress.  The congressman boasts it's evidence of his conservative nature.

"I don't even spend money on an apartment in D.C., just keep an inflatable bed in my office closet," said Congressman John Sullivan in the commercial.

So does he really sleep in his office?

His campaign says absolutely and that he's been doing it for the past two years.

"I watch your pennies and I'll watch mine," said Congressman John Sullivan in the commercial.

Officials with the House of Representatives tell the News On 6 there's nothing prohibiting members of Congress from sleeping in their office and that Representative Sullivan isn't the first and most likely won't be the last since renting in the capital is hard on the pocketbook.     

An apartment close to the U.S. Capitol can run more than $1,500 a month, with the average price for the District at $1,100 all because D.C.'s cost of living is 81% higher than the national average.

Just for a comparison, Tulsa's cost of living is 41% below the national average and you can find an apartment in Tulsa on average for $515 a month.

John Sullivan says a few pumps of air can make a big difference and lead to a good night's sleep.

A spokesman for Congressman John Sullivan says he rented a room in a friend's townhouse when he was first elected to office, but that became too expensive.       

If you're wondering, he keeps his clothes in his office and uses the house gym for showers.