Taxpayers Billed $1.4 Million for Obama’s Argentina Trip
President tangoed, bashed capitalism during visit
AP
BY: Elizabeth Harrington
April 1, 2016 3:30 pm
President Barack Obama’s two-day visit to Argentina, where he tangoed and downplayed the differences between capitalism and communism, cost taxpayers nearly $1.4 million.
The president traveled to Argentina last week after his two-day stop in Cuba. The visit racked up substantial costs for hotels, transportation, and advance bathroom maintenance, according to government contracts signed by the State Department and Department of Homeland Security.
Lodging for the president and White House staff totaled $115,588, while conference rooms cost $35,584. Another contract for hotel rooms cost $31,585.
U.S. Secret Service costs associated with the trip included $120,782 for hotel rooms at the Hyatt Park in Buenos Aires and $707,801 for transportation.
Use of Marine One, the presidential helicopter, during Obama’s trip cost $44,611. Other transportation costs included contracts worth $68,597, $23,304, $4,789, $8,212, and $24,955.
Transportation costs for journalists traveling with the president as part of the White House Correspondents Association totaled $141,794.
Finally, a contract signed March 9 for “repair and maintenance for pool bathrooms” for the president’s visit to Argentina cost $50,218.
http://freebeacon.com/issues/taxpayers-billed-1-4-million-obamas-argentina-trip/
just got even more sick to my stomach. reminds me to get back on track and post this to a thread...
Marine aviation squadrons are salvaging aircraft parts from museums
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R – TX) has been hearing from Marines at US military bases who have had to scavenge for parts to keep planes running.
“I have heard firsthand from service members who have looked me in the eye and told of trying to cannibalize parts from a museum aircraft … getting aircraft that were sent to the boneyard in Arizona back and ready to fly missions, pilots flying well below the minimum number of hours required for minimal proficiency,” Thornberry said.
Lawmakers are livid about the fiscal shortfalls, even if their budget infighting in Congress is partly to blame.
At issue are military readiness accounts stretched thin by more than a decade of war and four years of defense penny pinching. Earlier this month, chiefs from each of the four services told lawmakers that those two stressors have led to belt-tightening headaches for units across the military, in some cases deferring long-term needs in favor of short-term solutions.
The Marines have had to complain to lawmakers recently about being under-resourced, and are concerned that at any given time right now only 60% of their aircraft are flyable.
Source: Military Times