This cost is borne by voluntary contributions from ciizens, not by taxes.
We are the greatest country on earth and we have to act accordingly.
Mary Lincoln's gown for the 1865 inauguration (held while a war was still going on and Washington DC was in a war zone) cost $2,000 at that time, which would make it, what, a couple million in 2005 dollars. Compared to that, Laura Bush's gown is bargain basement.
ciizens = citizens