Posted on 12/08/2011 5:47:33 AM PST by COUNTrecount
President Obama’s decision to send Michelle and his daughters to Hawaii ahead of him if he is delayed by a fight with Congress could cost taxpayers tens of thousands of extra dollars to fund two separate vacation flights and related costs. The move would also violate the intent of an executive order he issued just last month urging federal employees to cut back on expenses like travel.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that Obama told Senate Democratic leaders during a White House meeting that he would delay his scheduled December 17 departure for Hawaii to keep Congress in town until it extends the payroll tax holiday. Said Reid:
I’ll paraphrase it, but I’m pretty close. He said, ‘Michelle and the girls are going to have a great time in Hawaii. They don’t need me there.’
But sending his family ahead of him could easily cost taxpayers an added $100,000, and possibly much more.
Last year, when Obama was delayed by Congress, Michelle left early for Hawaii, and the cost of her separate flight alone totaled about $63,000. This did not include related security and staff costs or the money for a cargo plane that may trail the first lady’s jet on such a trip.
Obama joined Michelle a few days after she landed in Hawaii, and they extended their vacation past their scheduled return date to make up for the president’s lost vacation time.
Sending Michelle to Hawaii ahead of him this year would provide the first lady a convenience that Obama himself is trying to deny government workers.
In an executive order issued Nov. 9 titled “promoting efficient spending,” which was touted by the White House as a sign of Obama’s commitment to cut the deficit, Obama instructed agencies to try to avoid unnecessary plane trips.
. . . to ensure efficient travel spending, agencies are encouraged to devise strategic alternatives to Government travel, including local or technological alternatives, such as teleconferencing and video conferencing. Agencies should make all appropriate efforts to conduct business and host or sponsor conferences in space controlled by the Federal Government, wherever practicable and cost effective.
Perhaps a nice “strategic alternative” for the first lady would be to cool her heels at the lovely Camp David, just a short chopper ride from the White House.
Hey Timmy, print me some more, I need to go shopping!
I never wanted a year to go any faster....
He often has to send her and kids (and especially dogs) ahead. I think they’re marriage is on the rocks, and has been for some time.
But, but, but, .....Newt flies first class to his PRIVATELY FUNDED speaking engagements...
She can’t cool her heels at the White House?
Obama has enjoyed the trips at our expense for far too long.
Did he ever got to Hawaii for Christmas before he was President? Inquiring minds want to know.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Do as I say, not as I do, bitches.
He’s, THEY ARE, the LAZIEST person, FAMILY, ever to inhabit the White House!! VACATIONS, VACATIONS, VACATIONS.....COCKTAIL PARTIES....COCKTAIL PARTIES.....COCKTAIL PARTIES!!! It’s ALL they do!!
He often has to send her and kids (and especially dogs) ahead. I think they’re marriage is on the rocks, and has been for some time.
Chewbacka is a beard. Reggie Love is his "love" (and drug courier)
Did he ever got to Hawaii for Christmas before he was President? Inquiring minds want to know.
*************************
Yes, he did and he missed some important votes and pissed some people off in doing so (in Illinois).
Give me a sec and I will hunt down that story. Having my first coffee here :p
Stop trying to lump Barry and Michelle in with the “little people”. Those rules don’t apply to the Won.
It just wouldn’t be a vacation if the first freeloaders actually used the same corporate jet to arrive at their taxpayer funded destiny. In a perfect world we would leave them there.
Obama paid a political price for missing an important vote on a crime package. That was during the 1999 Christmas holidays, as Obama — who describes himself as suffering from “chronic restlessness” — embarked on an ill-fated attempt to unseat Rep. Bobby Rush, a popular Chicago Democrat.
When the legislature was called into special session to vote on gun control, Obama and his family were visiting his grandmother in Hawaii. His 18-month-old daughter, Malia, was sick and unable to fly. The measure was narrowly defeated, and Rush criticized him. Obama lost by 31 points, his only electoral defeat.
www.campaignsitebuilder.com/templates/displayfiles/Tmpl13.asp?siteid=524&pageid=8510&trial=false&blogid=2119
Eat your peas.
“The move would also violate the intent of an executive order he issued just last month urging federal employees to cut back on expenses like travel.”
No kidding - in the Air Force reserves, to get a conference or meeting authorized, we now have to certify that we’ve researched the matter and there’s no way we can accomplish the goals of a meeting by phone and/or VTC. But apparently that doesn’t apply to the giver of the order...
Air Force 1%
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