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Subscribe to RSSAs Republicans continue to blast the White House for canceling tours due to the sequester’s budget impact, the United States Secret Service is offering further explanation about its decision to nix the visits for tourists beginning this weekend.
According to an official who broke down the numbers for NBC News, there are 37 Secret Service officers staffed for tours. They each get paid $50 per hour for eight-hour shifts. These officers work five days a week, adding up to a savings of $74,000 per week that the tours are off.
That comes to almost $2 million before the end of this fiscal year.
The Office of Management and Budget has calculated that the Secret Service may need to cut as much as $84 million from its budget due to the sequestration cuts. Last March, the service requested a budget of $1.6 billion for fiscal year 2013.
GOP lawmakers have painted the decision to call off tours due to the sequester as a publicity stunt.
As a press conference this morning, House Speaker John Boehner again called the White House’s move “silly” and invited visitors to Washington to tour the Capitol in lieu of the president’s famous home.
"Even though our budget's been cut, like everyone else's, thanks to proper planning, we're able to avoid furloughs amongst Capitol workers, and tours are going to remain available for all Americans," he said. "I think it's disappointing that the Obama administration didn't follow our lead and find savings in other parts of their budget."
NBC's Carrie Dann contributed to this report.
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Well...the first week's savings probably paid for the dinner at the Jefferson.
So what's your point? It paid for something? Isn't that the whole idea behind the cutbacks?
I was hoping for a picnic on the White House lawn, with each invitee bringing a dish. Guess it's still too cold.
It's a start. Now let's do away with the person that takes care of the Obama's dog. Let the daughters take care of it. Stop the separate vacations for Michele and Barack, aren't they a couple?
nothing but show business from this president. Perhaps he could cutout a golf trip or two, which costs millions of taxpayer dollars. The guy is a clown.
37 Secret Service agents making over $100,000 a year to walk school kids around the White House. I think the real story here is just how obscene our Federal government has become. I know that's not the narrative MSDNC wanted to portray but why does it take so many officers to conduct "tours"? Where are these 37 people right now? Are they "furloughed"? Are they sitting at home? No, they are sitting around guarding the front door from pesky children attempting to "get a tour".
Compare a 100K a year to a fat A-hole that's been four time divorce and, drug addict that makes 20 millon a year inciting violence and hate for just three hours,five days a week on the radio.
This is the people's house not his! I say evict the man and let the kids have their tour. I'm sick and tired of this man and his spending of the people's money on himself. We are being taken for one expensive ride while the country goes deeper in debt.
Glad to hear we are now saving SOME money - now if we can get the golf and other entertainment expenses to stop maybe it will make some kind of difference. And that means for the whole family - not just the pres. If Americans are expected to tighten their belts, everybody should be able to tighten their belts and the family in the white house should be leading by example.
Is OBAMA out of his TREE ??? saving WHAT ,we have a right to see the WHITE HOUSE or is their something he don,t want us to SEE in the WHITE HOUSE maybe his HANDS in the till.
The weeper of the house can hire lawyers too defend DOMA which is a waste of taxpayer dollars, cries too shut down government, then cries when the White House suspends tours...
You republicans are getting what you wanted with the sequester, enjoy the fruits of your whining..
America is paying the price for your actions, soon you will be getting the bill in the form of being voted out of office.
Even gerrymandered districts won't save your party (on tax payer dollars)...
He cancels tours of a house that the entire country pays for and yet goes off to play golf with that creep, Tiger Woods costing the taxpayers one million dollars. He's a pathetic excuse for a human being and a total waste of fresh air
The Secret Service has 6500 employees and just asked for a 1.6 Billion budget. The fact is the citizens do own the white house. Why are we paying those employees 40 hours for 20 hours work. Obviously the employees will be reassigned to other secret service jobs. This is a start to saving money and a "showy" start at that. The "sequester" was written into law several years ago, the government should have been planning all these years how to lower the costs. Shame on them for not planning better.
Apparently the mentally disabled are active today with their ignorant rants!
All that is needed in Congress is Representatives and Senators who can govern our Republic as a Democracy.
The obvious truth is that the Republicans over the past 32 years failed their fiduciary duty and created a staggering National Debt ending with the collapse of our Economy. In simple terms the Republicans SPENT while failing to provide revenue to cover the Republican spending.
The Obama Administration saved our economy from the Republican Financial Collapse and has implemented a reduction in government spending. What the Obama Administration is requesting the Republicans to do, is join forces with the Obama Administration, reduce additional spending and raise government revenue to a revenue stream that covers the cost of the government and pays down the Republican National Debt.
What the Obama Administration is seeking is COMMON SENSE FISCAL MANAGEMENT. What the past 32 years and the present actions of the Republicans proves to us is they do not want COMMON SENSE FISCAL MANAGEMENT, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY and ECONOMIC RECOVERY are not Republican principles.
Senators and Representatives you were elected to manage the United States Government, simply put that means, government spending MUST BE COVERED BY government revenue. This can be fixed so sit your ass down to the negotiating table and get it done for the citizens who sent you to Washington to solve the nations needs, GOVERNANCE!