WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, Utah Rep. Chris Stewart introduced the White House Tour Resolution, asking President Obama to refrain from taking more vacations at the expense of taxpayers until he reopens the White Hours for public tours.
The United States Secret Service has estimated that it costs approximately $3.7 million annually to keep the White House open for tours, while each vacation taken by President Obama and his family costs approximately $4 million. An article published in November 2012 in the Hawaii Reporter breaks down the estimated costs of the Obama family’s vacations, including the use of Air Force One, which costs approximately $180,000 an hour to operate.
“Our request is simple. The president is asking the people to sacrifice, but never himself,” Stewart said. “We don’t have a problem with him taking vacations, but it seems petty to close the White House to tours, when forgoing one or two out-of-town vacations would easily pay for the cost of keeping it open. It’s unfortunate that instead of choosing to eliminate wasteful or duplicative government spending as a result of the president’s sequester, he has chosen to close the White House to the public. The president is again showing his dedication to politics and not to pursuing sound public policy.”
On the White House website, Michelle Obama is quoted as saying that the White House is “the ‘People’s House’ … a place where everyone should feel welcome.” She said that her and President Obama made it “their mission to open up the house to as many people as (they) can.”
“Just as Michelle Obama stated, the White House should be open to the public. It should be a place where everyone feels welcome,” Stewart said. “Through this resolution, I am urging the president to forgo a few taxpayer-funded vacations, and reopen the White House to the public.”
The complete text of the White House Tour Resolution can be found here.
Submitted by: The Office of Rep. Chris Stewart
Email: [email protected]
Thank you for highlighting the Presidents lack of concern for school children wanting to visit the White House so he may take lavish vacations. Someone that was really interested in helping the economy and welfare of the American people would not be taking any vacations, but working every day, until everyone who needs a job has a job.
@George thanks for a truly asinine comment! What about the Republican presidents whom all have done this? George your true lack of concern is very telling about your character! Mr Stewart can only take cheap shots as he lacks any foundation.
The obomb will no doubt go down as one of the worst presidents to ever. And I will admit there were some bad one before him and yes, Bush was a bad one. But the The obomb has out shined him by far. He criticized Bush for allowing the nations debt to rise as much as it did on his watch back in 08. The obomb allowed it to rise more then Bush did in only half the time! Can we say “hypocrite”? After Bush we needed a leader more then ever. He gave us “hope” and sold us to the idea he was going to fix the problem. He has made it worse and worse. He is the wrong person for this job. He couldn’t lead a boy scout troop.
Roger,
I’d like to be able express my opinion without being called names. My comment would be the same no matter which party’s president was in power. And I welcome comments from our elected senators and representatives. It gives us voters, a chance to agree, disagree or offer positive suggestions. My main point of posting a comment was my wish that everyone who needs a job should have a job. I believe it’s an achievable goal if we all would work together.
Our newest Representative, Christ Stewart, has obviously no idea what the sequester actually does so he takes a cheap shot at President Obama. Or maybe he does know and takes a cheap shot anyway. The sequester is not as he describes. It is an across the board cut in funding and President Obama can’t just shift money around as Stewart suggests. The sequester was passed by Congress. Christ Stewart is right up there with Mike Lee in embarrassing Utah and trying to score cheap political points.
Oops, typed Chris too fast and added an extra “t” two times. Sorry about that.
It’s ok my child, I don’t mind sharing my name. I can’t blame Rep. Stewart for calling out Mr. Obama on his “do as I say, not as I do” attitude. Maybe you would like to “donate” a little more on your tax share so that Mr. Obama may be able to soon re-open the White House Tours.