Posted on 12/18/2011 8:07:06 AM PST by yoe
Secret Service has arrived, street barricades are in place, and the U.S. Coast Guard has stationed itself in the waters surrounding Kailua, Oahu. That is a sure sign President Barack Obama’s security team is preparing for the first family to arrive in the small beachside community as early as Friday night for what is expected to be a 17-day vacation.
The President and his family are traveling separately to Hawaii because he wants resolve the payroll tax cut issue before leaving Washington – and his wife does not want to wait.
But the advanced trip and the cost that comes with it – as much as $100,000 (flight and security) – adds to an already expensive vacation for the taxpayers.
Hawaii Reporter research shows the total cost for the President’s visit for taxpayers far exceeded $1.5 million in 2010 – but is even more costly this year because he extended his vacation by three days and the cost for Air Force One travel has jumped since last assessed in 2000. In addition, Hawaii Reporter was able to obtain more specifics about the executive expenditures.
The total cost (based on what is known) for the 17-day vacation roundtrip vacation to Hawaii for the President, his family and staff has climbed to more than $4 million. Here's why.
TRAVEL: $3,651,626
The biggest expense is President Barack Obama’s round trip flight to Hawaii via Air Force One, a cost the GAO office estimated at $1 million in the year 2000. Contacted today, the GAO confirmed there is no report the independent office affiliated with Congress has prepared since 2000 to operate Air Force One and Air Force Two.
However, the U.S. Air Force provides the most current numbers of $181,757 per flight hour. Travel time for Air Force One direct from Washington D.C. to Hawaii is about 9 hours or $1,635,813 each way for a total of $3,271,622 for the round trip to Hawaii and back.
The cost for USAF C-17 cargo aircraft that transports the Presidential limos, helicopters and other support equipment is not available to the public. However, the flight time between Andrews Air Force Base and Hawaii is at about 20 hours roundtrip, with estimated operating cost of $7,000 per hour (GAO report) for a total of $140,000 per roundtrip. The United States Marine Corps provides a presidential helicopter, along with pilots and support crews for the test flights, which travel on another C-17 flight at $140,000 for a total of $280,000.
Mrs. Obama’s early flight to Hawaii costs about $63,000 (White House Dossier), but add security and personnel for a total of about $100,000.
HOUSING: $151,200
Kailua Beach
The President and his family pay for their own beachfront rental (they are not staying in the Winter White House this year but rather a house on the same street further to the ocean point).
The Kailua rentals are fronted by the ocean and backed by a canal. So, the taxpayers must cover the costs for housing U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Seals in beach front and canal front homes in Kailua.
That costs about $1,200 a day ($200 allocated per bedroom per day). Since security arrives one day early, homes are rented for 18 days.
That is about $21,600 per home for approximately 7 houses rented at a total cost of $151,200 for security to stay nearby.
HOTEL: $72,216
Moana Surfrider Resort
The President’s staff and White House Press Corps stay at one of Hawaii’s oldest and most elegant hotels, the Moana Surfrider. Hawaii Reporter confirmed they are again staying there this year. Besides its stunningly beautiful view of Waikiki, and its traditional architecture, it is one of the most pricey hotels in the state.
Government rates are $177 per night, but that only is available during certain times a year.
Rooms typically start at $250 but can cost on average as much as $450 a night, and are even higher during the holidays. A hotel spokesperson did not return calls to confirm the rate the White House received.
View of Waikiki Beach from the Moana Surfrider Hotel
A conservative estimate with rooms at the government rate of $177 per day (excluding a 9.25 percent Transient Accommodation Tax and a 4.712 percent General Excise Tax on each bill, meals, internet charges and other charges) means the taxpayers are covering more than $72,216 in hotel bills for an estimated 24 staff,
LOCAL TAXPAYER COSTS: $260,000
Local police over time for the president’s visit has historically cost Oahu taxpayers $250,000 but may be more expensive this year with the extended vacation.
The city ambulance the accompanies the president 24 hours a day through his entire visit is $10,000, according to city spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy.
UNKNOWN COSTS
There are several costs the White House annually refuses to release, citing security.
For example, the president’s security usually rents an entire floor of an office building in Kailua on the canal during the president’s stay.
There are security upgrades and additional phone lines to several private homes where Obama and friends are staying. That includes bullet proof glass installed, home security systems disabled, new security measures put into place and additional phone lines added.
There is the cost for car rentals and fuel for White House staff staying at Moana Hotel.
And there are additional travel costs Secret Service and White House staff traveling ahead of the President.
The total cost (based on what is known) for a 17-day round trip vacation to Hawaii for the President and his family and staff and security is an estimated $4,135,038.
Hawaii Reporter annually has requested details on the cost of the President’s trip, but the White House will not release any figures, citing security concerns. A spokesperson has maintained the costs are "in line" with other presidential vacations.
Hawaii Reporter has sought to determine the cost of vacations for the current president and last two presidents but the Government Accountability Office was able to provide those costs and referred Hawaii Reporter back to the White House spokesperson.
Thanks for a great morning laugh. We copied the url and sent it along to all our contacts through e mail.
Moochele wants a little "private time" with her new boyfriend, the Secret Service agent.
Kings and Dictators spend this kind of money on themselves not Presidents because Presidents are answerable to The People.
Can’t wait for 2012 election.
Navy SEALS? Since when do Navy SEALS provide presidential security? You'd never see a Special Forces guy doing that! Especially with the current denizen of the WH.
/ gratuitous barb against any SEALs
[snicker]
they should take AMTRAK to go stay with Willie Green.
Yes, they’re sticking it to the ones they hate.
Hey, Bamma OOP has every right to celebrate Christmas. Oops I guess I wasn’t supposed to refer to Christmas since What’s his name is a federal employee.
So Sorry.
I imagine the rates at Christmas time are exorbitant.
They always said one of the reasons that the press hated W was that they would much rather travel to Martha's Vinyard than Crawford.
Americans feel the pinch.
I know I take fewer holidays, and shorter ones. I end up taking a vacation closer to home ... or just staying home.
They are out of touch.
I can imagine that if he ever got the saw cranked and running he might cut his own leg off.
Is this an urban legend: Didn’t the Bush Family stay in Washington, DC, during Christmas so that Secret Service Staff could be with their families???
My *dislike* for this family of grifters cannot be put into words, in any language!
Think about that while you’re paying your taxes.
Is this guy really going to get +40% of the vote next Nov?
:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
Losing faith in....everything....
I missed that part I saw coast guard but not navy seals.Who in the hell does thewon think he is?
Someone needs to tell the GOP that they can run anyone they like against Obama and Obama usual vote fraud will happen.
http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=16602
Don’t know but I think TheWon leaves because he hates Christmas and the nativity set.In Hawaai he can get some prayer rug time in with no one seeing.I do know his first year it was said they do not celebrate Christmas.Then this got hushed.
Agreed! LOL!
I love my STIHL Farm Boss...
They didn’t just get out of touch.
No: They are like ghetto lotto winners. Taking advantage of their situation to take the taxpayer for all they can.
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