More Government Waste

Just when I didn’t think it could get any worse, here comes this story in the Washington Free Beacon about the National Institute of Health spending $400,000 texting Latino men, telling them they’re too fat and that they need to exercise more. Now, there’s money well spent indeed!

However here’s some more government waste that should be stopped completely. (Ya’ listening Senator Daines and Representative Zinke?) It has to do with the Former President’s Act of 1958. It deals with giving each former president a ton of money after they are gone from office. I realize that when the bill passed, wages weren’t what they are today. That said, Harry S. Truman, in personal financial difficulties, was finally awarded a $25,000 yearly pension.

You’ve come a long way baby from then til now. Here’s why.

President Obama just requested that congress approve an 18 percent increase in the Former President’s Act (FPA) payment for the fiscal year of 2017. Eighteen percent when congress has a hissy-fit every time social security asks ... begs for a 2 percent raise.

To put it in perspective, an 18 percent increase for the FPA would be about $588,000. I guess I didn’t mention the entire yearly stipend, with the increase, would be in the neighborhood of $3,865,000 for fiscal year 2017. The former presidents also get allotments for such things as postage, office rental, staff wages (this is allotted at $150,000 a year for the first 30 months and $96,000 thereafter), secret service protection, pension ($209,000 yearly), and medical care. All these things are for life. In 1970 the secret service protection was for life. In 1997 congress cut it back to 10 years after the president is out of office, but Obama reinstated the ‘for life’ thing in 2013 and said coverage will be for himself, George W. and all subsequent presidents.

It’s common knowledge that if a president serves for eight years he will have earned about 3.5 million in salary. He gets free room and board, travel expenses, medical care for himself and his family, a fancy cook, and all the other perks afforded the president. When presidents get out of office they often go out on the rubber chicken circuit doing talk shows and giving well paid for speeches to graduating seniors. Bill Clinton earned $132 million speechifying and book writing in the years 2001 to 2015. Pretty good income, but one has to realize he is in possession of a fairly high-maintenance wife. Clinton also has an 8,300-square foot office in New York’s Harlem District which costs you, the taxpayer, about a half a million per year.

Does Clinton really need to ding the taxpayers for ANY amount of money from the FPA? I think not.

And as for Obama, he’ll likely make that much or more speaking to the hundreds of sororities around the country. Sororities are filled with 18- to 23-year-old idealistic SWF’s who dearly love their president. Or so it would seem at the polling place these last two elections.

My feeling is this. If a person is destitute after making $450,000 a year for eight years with room and board thrown in free, it’s his own fault and the government taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for his stupidity.

Here’s another bunch of money going out. It’s called the “transitional budget,” which as I see [it], it covers the costs of transferring the residency of the White House from the out-going POTUS to the new guy. It also covers transitional costs for the vice-president incoming and outgoing. Fine and dandy by me to help them move, but should it cost $8.5 million dollars? That’s the amount Congress approved for the 2009 budget. It goes up every time there’s a changing of the guard. Imagine that! For that kind of dough, I’ll hitch the six-up to the freight wagon and move them myself! The White House comes fully furnished, so unless the Obamas are padding their retirement with some “borrowed” priceless antique stuff, there can’t be that much to move.

I might have gotten off-track a little bit. I intended to rail at Obama’s wanting to raise the already hefty yearly allowance for former presidents. It’s ridiculous and a little obscene in my opinion. Sorta’ like some professional sports figures. Jealous? Me? Ahh, kinda’!

That’s it for now folks. Thanks for listening.