Taxpayers Fund Bill Clinton Spending

Politico: Former President, Who Amassed A Fortune After Leaving Office, Has Taken Full Advantage Of Perks

(The Politico)  This story was written by Kenneth P. Vogel.

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The Clintons have made a $100-million fortune since leaving the White House, but a Politico analysis found that hasn’t kept Bill Clinton from taking full advantage of the publicly funded perks offered to ex-presidents.

In fact, his presidential retirement benefits cost taxpayers almost as much as those of the other two living ex-presidents combined.

The price tag for Clinton’s federal retirement allowance from 2001 through the end of this year will run $8 million, compared to $5.5 million for George H. W. Bush’s and $4 million for Jimmy Carter’s during the same period.

Since 2001, Clinton has received more of almost every benefit available to former presidents - from his pension to his staff’s salaries and benefits to supplies. His $420,000 phone bill and $3.2 million office rent tab both nearly surpassed the totals rung up for those purposes by Bush, Carter and the late former presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan combined. As a group, they spent $484,000 on telephone service and $3.8 million on rent in the same span.

The figures come from congressional reports studying the presidential retirement program and from summaries of annual budget requests by the U.S. General Services Administration, which administers the program, created to allow former presidents to enjoy dignified retirements without having to take jobs that demean or commercialize the presidency.

Some of Clinton’s greater spending stems from the fact that he served eight years in office, qualifying him for a federal health insurance plan unavailable to one-term presidents, and that he selected office space in the high-priced Manhattan market.

Politico’s analysis comes on the heels of the release last week of seven years' worth of Clinton family tax documents. They showed that the Clintons pulled in $111 million in total income from 2000, their last year in the White House, through 2007.

Given Bill Clinton’s earning potential and that of future ex-presidents, “the benefits taxpayers shell out for their care and feeding just don’t make sense anymore,” contended Pete Sepp, spokesman for the fiscally conservative, nonprofit National Taxpayers Union.

The group has pushed to reduce or cap the perks available to former presidents and their families. “There’s a very flimsy justification for such generosity in many ex-presidents’ cases. In Bill Clinton’s case, there’s zero,” he said.

But Jay Carson, who worked for Clinton after his presidency and now serves as a spokesman for Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, said the former president's retirement allowances are justified.

“Since leaving office, President Clinton has represented the American people at home and abroad, at state funerals, through his work with former President Bush on the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, and through his vigorous charitable foundation work to fight AIDS, climate change and childhood obesity,” Carson said in a statement.

None of the retirement resources are used for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Carson said.

“President Clinton’s office’s policy is that staff members paid by GSA who engage in political activity may not do so on GSA-paid time,” he noted. In addition, Carson said Clinton did not spend the full amount allocated to him over the past three years.

Congress passed the Former Presidents Act in 1958, after news spread of the financial struggles of former President Harry Truman. He wrote in his memoirs: “I could never lend myself to any transaction, however respectable, that would commercialize on the prestige and dignity of the office of the presidency.”

The act and subsequent legislation now entitle each former president to a pension, an office and staff, travel costs, mailing privileges and assorted other supplies, materials and services.

That’s to say nothing of lifetme Secret Service protection, which costs significantly more than discretionary retirement allowances. It was not included in Politico’s analysis because the agency doesn’t disclose its budget for protecting individuals. The Government Accountability Office in a 2001 report pegged the cost of protecting all former presidents from 1977 through 2000 to $370 million, yet protected parties typically have little say in the size and shape of their details.

Former presidents can decide whether to accept the act’s retirement benefits, as well as how much to request.

When a former president wants a given perk, his office informs the GSA, which submits a proposed budget to Congress using previous years’ expenses as a guide. Since 2001, no ex-president has declined all the benefits, though some have accepted fewer specific perks or turned them down outright.

In 2002, for instance, Ford didn’t accept a dime for printing costs, while Carter did not receive any money for his staff’s benefits. According to GAO and Congressional Research Service records, Reagan from 1996 or earlier, until his death in 2004, did not accept a health insurance benefit that two-term presidents can opt to add to their pension payments.

Clinton applied for the health benefit before leaving office, according to the GSA, and has received it each year. This year, it was $10,000, according to GSA.

Carson said Clinton never sought increases from the GSA’s proposals and, “on occasion, his staff has recommended decreases to the proposed budgets.”

The GSA categorizes the benefits in broad categories that sometimes leave much to the imagination. For instance, since 2001, Clinton has received more than the other former presidents for “other services” ($751,000) and “supplies & materials” ($143,000), while Bush got the largest allowance for “equipment” ($328,000).

The GSA said “supplies” include “office supplies, publications and subscriptions,” while “equipment” means “computers and peripheral equipment, as well as servers.”

Some expenses, like phone bills and rent, have no limit, while others, like staff salaries, are capped.

Presidential pensions are statutorily set at the same amount per year as the salaries of sitting Cabinet secretaries, who will earn $191,000 this year.

As for the higher rent for Clinton’s office, which is located in a penthouse in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, Carson said it’s a function of location, location and location.

While Clinton’s office is costlier per square foot, it is also more spacious than that of Bush or Carter.

This year, according to a 2007 Congressional Research Service report, taxpayers will fork over $516,000 for Clinton’s 8,300-square-foot Harlem office, while Carter’s 4,200-square-foot Atlanta digs will run them $102,000. Bush’s 4,600-square-foot Houston spread will cost $175,000.

Carson stressed that not all of the space in Clinton’s office is usable.

Clinton’s rent would have been less if his office were on a lower floor, according to a 2001 GAO report, which said the rent per square foot for Clinton’s office is about 4 percent higher than that of a Social Security office located on a lower floor in the same building. But the lower office doesn’t have the same view of Central Park, the George Washington Bridge and most of Manhattan as that reportedly offered by Clinton’s suite.

The offices of Bush and Reagan both also offered “good panoramic views,” according to the GAO report, which said that, when it came to selecting Clinton’s office, “no other comparable properties exist in the area.”

Clinton’s rent is quite a bit less than that of the office that was his first choice: a 56th-floor midtown Manhattan suite two blocks south of Central Park. Clinton backed away from plans to locate there amid criticism from congressional Republicans, then in the majority, over the estimated $811,000-per-year rent.

Carson said Clinton’s Harlem office continues to serve a vital function, even as Clinton travels the country - paid for by his wife’s presidential campaign, not taxpayers - stumping for her.

“While President Clinton is devoted to supporting Sen. Clinton’s candidacy, his office continues to function,” Carson said. “Each year, former President Clinton’s office receives, processes and responds to tens of thousands of pieces of mail and e-mail correspondences and thousands of scheduling requests, the majority of which are related to his position as a former president.”

[xzonz]

Bill should have had a very wells et plan to embark on his role as a statesman. he could have ended up being as popular as Mandela

I hope Americans see the flaws in the system and rectify it, making the ex presidents seem more presidential and limiting their allowances by closing the loopholes that allow such outrageous spending

the lobbyists have taken a firm grip on each and every corner of the govt, but its not too late- we can change all of that by voting for Barack

[xzonz]

Bill should have had a very wells et plan to embark on his role as a statesman. he could have ended up being as popular as Mandela

I hope Americans see the flaws in the system and rectify it, making the ex presidents seem more presidential and limiting their allowances by closing the loopholes that allow such outrageous spending

the lobbyists have taken a firm grip on each and every corner of the govt, but its not too late- we can change all of that

[cruiser111-2009]

Liberals are notorious for ignoring the transgressions of their Politcal elites. They can''t help but stick up for them. Afterall they worked so very hard to put them in office. It is hard to stand up and say I was wrong for supporting a politician who commits crimes and transgressions i guess. It is really so sad. Liberals famous line is "it doesn''t matter because look at what he/she did for this country." As far as Bill''s economic savvy the truth of the matter is this. The economy was on a natural upswing when he took the presidency. He did nothing to regenerate the economy. In fact he is the main cause for the problems we are experiencing now with the passage of NAFTA which Hillary the lying wynch would have us believe she is apposed to!

[cruiser111-2009]

When Bill C. And Bush number 1 were pandering for donations for hurricane Katrina relief did either of them donate one dime of their millions to this effort? Just curious. I havn''t heard any reporting of this since their tax returns were released. I did hear that the Clintons donated to their own Clinton foundation which is simply a tax shelter where the rich stockpile cash and are only required to use a small portion of it for charity.

[glock4me]

So the democrats have narrowed it down to Obama (someone who seems anti-American in name and actions) and another Clinton (the evil one this time).

Really!!! You dems must really feel that America will blindly vote for anyone with a "D" beside their name, appearantly out of pure hatred for George Bush. The dems must be missing powerhouses like Mondale and Dukakis this year.

[hp32970c]

The people in Ohio fell for the "I didn''t approve of NAFTA" *** that Clinton spewed forth from her lying mouth. Now it appears that the "proud" people of Pa are doing the same thing. Oh well.....at least they''re not bitter...sigh.

[jt_lancer]

When given the chance, politicians of all stripes will freeload off the backs of the taxpaying citizenry at every opportunity.

Remember this when choosing your ''Master'' in November.

[jockh]

Hillarys problem is that voters know how easily the Clintons lie; and that both Hillary and Bill would lie on a stack of bibles.

Misspeaking is one thing, repeating something over and over makes it a FLAT LIE !!
The Clintons simply cannot help themselves; they tell a big lie when a small lie will do. And they tell a small lie when the truth will do. After careful training from Bill, Hillary can lie out of both sides of her mouth at the same time even when there''s no particular reason to.
Lets face it, it takes a bare faced liar to confuse a hug from a little girl in Bosnia with the terror of running from sniper bullets.

If you are inclined to overlook Clinton lies just because Hillary is your favorite for nomination then just look at the trouble the country is in because of the lies of President Bush: one million Iraqis and over 4000 American servicemen dead; that%u2019s right DEAD, all because of lies. So you see, the lies of a President really do matter and God help America if the world famous misspeaking Clintons get elected.

[grshopr1]

$420,000 for phone bills? that seems outregeous. Are these 900 numbers? and we do we pay for any of this? they are all worth millions. I find it interesting that clinton uses as much as the other 2 combined and to think his wife thinks she can fix the economy.
Since when did everybody decide to ask what the country and do for them NOT what they could do for their country.

[eroosevelt08]

President Clinton and Senator Clinton are generous, very generous, to charities. Also, they don''t need to do anything, and yet they are giving back to their country and their fellow Americans with public service.

[eroosevelt08]

You are forgetting that Obama got to go to an elite high school.

[watcher269-2009]

Taxpayers also fund Daddy Bush''s expenses too! And He''s worth 300 Million!

[lordmi]

should we donate some more, so Clintons will choke and NEVER show up on OUR Election?

[karela33]

Obama didn''t have anything to do with the Clinton''s spendthrift ways. It''s ironic that the wealthy Clintons are always talking about Obama being elitist. Obama''s the one who started out life with a poor teenage single mom. Bill Clinton''s government paid-for office costs millions of dollars because he chose one in Manhattan. Harry Truman and his Bess nearly went belly up because he wouldn''t become involved in anything that might ever reflect negatively on the office of the presidency. Bill C. obviously doesn''t worry about that when he uses his position as an ex president of the USA to lobby for anything and everything including Columbian free trade deals and Dubai billionaire deals. Hillary wasn''t on another planet. They live together. She likes the money and the power too.

[jonesforch]

Wow that would buy a lot of health care Hillary.

[kansas1946]

Since 2001, Clinton has received more of almost every benefit available to former presidents - from his pension to his staff%u2019s salaries and benefits to supplies. His $420,000 phone bill and $3.2 million office rent tab both nearly surpassed the totals rung up for those purposes by Bush, Carter and the late former presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan combined. As a group, they spent $484,000 on telephone service and $3.8 million on rent in the same span.
*********************************************

And folks think that Hillary can be trusted with our pocket books??

[truth-hurts]

Politico reeks of bias

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by nanc12 at 05:09 PM : Apr 11, 2008

lol, You chill out! As I said...take a good look at Obama. Go research his politics and his payoffs, and his support of Rezko...

I''m not desperate at all. I''m just fine. But I will speak out against THIS man. I don''t care if he''s a little green man from Mars!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by krenz4 at 05:24 PM : Apr 11, 2008

What kind of krap are you talking about! Obama has lied from day one when he presented his campaign as above politics as usual, when he played dirty politics to get his first senate seat, and he''s played it throughout this campaign when his distortion of people''s words and intents. He''s done nothing but try to tear down his opponent, and has NOTHING to build himself up with, because that''s all he''s GOT! Take off your rose colored glasses and take a look at this man! Put race aside...and look again!

There are lots of minority politicians I''d vote for if you''d put one up for a nomination!

I worked in Barbara Jordan''s campaign in Texas, one of the smartest, most honorable legislators of our time. As well as Sheila Jackson Lee and Henry Cisneros.

When you know who and what the hell you''re talking about you can spout your mouth off! And when you present me with an honorable candidate I''ll vote for him. But Obama NEVER!

[dsproull]

Posted by jenjen27 at 02:25 PM : Apr 11, 2008

IN 1992 THE CLINTONS WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO FIX THINGS

- The only president ever impeached on grounds of personal malfeasance
- Most number of convictions and guilty pleas by friends and associates*
- Most number of cabinet officials to come under criminal investigation
- Most number of witnesses to flee country or refuse to testify
- Most number of witnesses to die suddenly
- First president sued for sexual harassment.
- First president accused of rape.
- First first lady to come under criminal investigation
- Largest criminal plea agreement in an illegal campaign contribution case
- First president to establish a legal defense fund.
- First president to be held in contempt of court
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions from abroad
- First president disbarred from the US Supreme Court and a state court

IN 2008 LETS SEND THEM BACK TO FINISH THEIR JOB
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I Agree with JenJen, They both have an agenda to complete! Vote Hillery for president. The list above is a small fraction of their abilitys! We just love them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!