White House defends high bills for Africa trip

washingtontimes.com ^ | 6/15/13 | Dave Boyer

[Justaham]

President Obama is under fire for the price of the first family’s upcoming weeklong trip to Africa, which could cost taxpayers as much as $100 million at a time of federal budget cuts and furloughs.

The Obamas’ trip will take them to Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa from June 26 to July 3. The excursion will involve military cargo planes airlifting 56 support vehicles, including 14 limousines, and three trucks to carry bulletproof glass panels to cover the windows where the family is set to stay.

One estimate of the cost has pegged the bill to U.S. taxpayers at somewhere between $60 million and $100 million.

A House lawmaker said rather than spend $100 million on a trip to Africa, the administration should instead fund public tours of the White House that were canceled under the “sequestration” budget cuts.

“For the cost of this trip to Africa, you could have 1,350 weeks of White House tours, which the White House has canceled indefinitely due to budget constraints,” Rep. George Holding, North Carolina Republican, said on the House floor Friday.

Mr. Holding said with the country more than $16 trillion in debt, the administration should not be spending so much money on an eight-day visit to Africa.

[The Great RJ]

Louis XVI was hunting at Versailles on July 14, 1789 and he and Marie Antoinette were oblivious to the Revolution starting back in Paris. Perhaps history will repeat itself.

[Humal]

According to Drudge http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/failte-first-family-the-obamas-touch-down-in-ireland-29349387.html, they have reserved 30 rooms at 2,500 pounds/night.

[tumblindice]

Nothing to see here. Obama & Co. once again attempting to defend the indefensible.

[0.E.O]

Does Congress have no control over these expenses?

If Congress tries to reign in Obama's trips then maybe someone will take a close look at all of their junkets, and they can't have that.

Both Bush and Clinton did tours of Africa. I would love to see how the cost of their trips compare with Obama's travels and find out just how much higher his expenses are. Then get someone to explain why.

[Ann Archy]

2500 English Pounds is like $3900.00 a NIGHT!!!

[Vaduz]

Now everyone know what he means by spreading the wealth.

[Humal]

That would be about right. Another article said $3,300/night. http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2013/06/17/michelle-stay-3300anight-dublin-hotel-suite Multiply that by 30, plus taking AF2 over, plus security, her share of this trip is exorbitant. When George Bush was president, the Dims raised so much Cain about his travel costs, that the Republicans paid for the non-official part of the trips out of their coffers. I'm sure we'll see the 1st grafters reimbursing the treasury soon.

[Humal]

Don’t know why the link didn’t come out right. It is

http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2013/06/17/michelle-stay-3300anight-dublin-hotel-suite/

[laplata]

Worse than tours is the removal of hot meals for our troops in Afganistan! Our troops come first always, IMO.

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ALWAYS!!