Rep. Chaffetz Offers 'Cot-Side Chats'

February 27, 2009

Freshman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, has embraced YouTube to offer a series of regular "Cot-Side Chats" -- short videos of the former business executive hunkered down on a cot in his Longworth Building office talking to the camera about some of the most pressing issues of the day. Chaffetz thought the testimonials would be an effective way for constituents to understand his reasoning behind the votes he casts. Plus the platform gets his message out faster than writing letters. Why the cot? It's to reinforce that he practices the fiscal discipline he preaches -- like sleeping in his office.

Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.

Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.

Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.

Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.

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