Texas Tribune: Arrington, a Texas freshman in Congress, bucks trend by moving family to D.C.

WASHINGTON —Freshman U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington and his wife recently made an unusual choice: The couple and their three young children are moving to Washington.

[…]

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat, described conversations with former U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright about a previous era in politics when members of Congress bonded over attending balls and softball games together.

That lack of off-hours friendships formed over weekends is frequently blamed for the polarized nature of Capitol Hill.

"I do think you lose something by not being up here all the time," Veasey said.

But, Veasey said, that is not financially realistic to him or many other members. Veasey said that finding adequate housing for a family near the Capitol was cost prohibitive and he was unwilling to commute in from the Virginia or Maryland suburbs. Many members abide in apartments and in shared townhouses while in town, some with roommates.