Obama restores lifetime Secret Service for former presidents

President Obama, surrounded by Secret Service agents, walks to greet guests upon arrival on Air Force One at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla., on April 13, 2012. / SAUL LOEB / AFP /Getty Images

Under a new law signed today by President Obama, all former U.S. presidents and first ladies will receive lifetime Secret Service protection.

The measure also authorizes protection for the children of former presidents until they are 16 years old.

• Bush daughters kept Secret Service protection

In 1994, as a cost-saving measure, Congress acted to limit protection for future former presidents and spouses to just ten years after they left office.

The 1994 measure exempted then-President Bill Clinton and first applied to George W. Bush and all his successors.

Eighteen years later, Congress reconsidered.

"The world has changed dramatically since the 9/11 terrorist attacks," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, during House debate on the bill in November.

"We must make sure that the safety and security of our former chief executives is not jeopardized," said Smith.

There were some voices of dissent about restoring lifetime protection to former presidents.

"I think we have seen that being a former president can be a pretty lucrative career, and I feel that after 10 years, if these former presidents feel the need for additional security, they should pay for it themselves," said Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., in a statement. He led the fight in 1994 to limit protection for former presidents to just 10 years.

Nevertheless, with widespread bipartisan support, the House passed the bill by voice vote last month and by unanimous consent in the Senate a few days before the 112th Congress came to a close.

Former presidents and first ladies remain free to relinquish Secret Service protection as did Richard Nixon in 1985, 11 years after he left office.

The Secret Service does not divulge the costs of its protective details, but it's believed to be in the range of tens of millions of dollars a year for each former president.

[unclebob224]

Completely unrelted comment ..LOL. I have now seen my *hero secret service agent*. The one standing behind Obama, the guy with the goatee. First and only secret service agent I have ever met or seen with one of those. And he's the guy without the sunglasses - here's a hint, that says that he's the guy in charge. He was standing in the same position - just behind Obama - when they were walking during the inauguration parade.

[stamicrach]

Obama is only trying to secure protection for his own azz; because he has finally figured out what percentage of the population wishes he had never been born.!!

WORST PRESIDENT EVER.!!!

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

Next time, try to read and understand!!!

"Nevertheless, with widespread bipartisan support, the House passed the bill by voice vote last month and by unanimous consent in the Senate a few days before the 112th Congress came to a close."

Did you see Obama's name there?

[tiredofliberals]

of course he did his above evryone else make him and his family join odumacare like the rest of us

[Riverjump]

With guns? Hmmmm....

[antoniof123]

ah yes children starve in the streets, people go homeless and now congress wants to protect the former Presidents whats next protection for them?

I hate this congress already even worst than the last!

[johnlockesghost]

Waste of money. Politicians should not be sheltered, let them live like any other American citizen.

[hdc77494]

I guess he knows half the country will hate him for the rest of his life, though I doubt he cares.

[Scimajor]

Meaning that half of the country is a bunch of biter losers who have nothing but hate in their hearts for people who aren't like them?

I think that number is MUCH lower. The vast majority of people have far more intelligence than that.

[tonyatq]

I think he trying to protect Bush.

[tvwatcher5345]

w just breathed a sigh of relief

[gypsyswede]

Obama OKs lifetime Secret Service for presidents

4:19 PM, Jan 10, 2013

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

http://news.cincinnati.com/usatoday/article/1823961

Okay for them, but NOT YOUR CHILDREN

[THGdriver2]

I thought it was still for life. I had not known or I did not remember that they put a 10 year limit on the protection.

I think it should be for life or up to the individual president to determine when the protection is to end.

I seem to recall a story about the S S men guarding X president Truman.

If you were put on that job it was for punishment or the like.