Cap expense accounts for former U.S. presidents at $200,000 per year, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst says

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joseph Morton

WASHINGTON — Every year, taxpayers shell out millions of dollars in allowances to former U.S. presidents.

It’s time to tighten those post-presidential belts, says Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. Being the former leader of the free world is a pretty lucrative gig these days, after all.

She introduced legislation Thursday that would limit the allowances to $200,000 a year per president.

“Taxpayers should not be on the hook for subsidizing former presidents’ lives to the tune of millions of dollars,” Ernst said.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/politics/cap-expense-accounts-for-former-u-s-presidents-at-per/article_e92be9f0-e5db-5215-9128-635bbf19c055.html

[Chipper Chat]

1. ....but keep all the perks for Senators.

Yeah, Joni. Who cares about all those freeloading former presidents. The very idea of that no-good Jimmy Carter building houses. And let us please STOP footing the bill for GWB's paint brushes! Yeah, we need that money to go to the underprivileged and the poor.....oops, oh wait.

[longship]

2. Q: Does God mandate this, Joni?

GOP == God's Own Party.

They all claim to speak for God, Ernst among them. But really, they are all mere theocratic lunatics. Especially Joni Ernst.

Fuck you, Senator Ernst.

[SwankyXomb]

24. There's really not that much difference between

"God told me to run for President" and "God told me to stab you a million times and set you on fire".

[Dustlawyer]

3. Now that OBAMA is nearing the end they are trying to slam the door on his butt on

the way out. Predictable!

[SCVDem]

5. ^^^This^^^

[Monk06]

25. They'll be throwing stones at his helicopter on the last flight out of the Whitehouse.

[randys1]

27. I am amazed they havent just started a shooting civil war yet, given the color

of the occupants of the WHITE HOUSE

[Jerry442]

4. Brilliant plan. There must be several million ex-presidents out there, right? NT

[onehandle]

6. Ex-Democratic Presidents will soon outnumber Ex-Republican Presidents.

So now supporting them is 'welfare.'

Taxpayers should not be on the hook for subsidizing corporations, moron.

Cap those 'expenses' and save billions.

[LynneSin]

7. I'm fine with that as long as we do the same for former Senators and Represenatives

We cut their perks drastically too.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Yup because of the black guy.

They should claw it all back from Raygun, Poppy, and Shrub.

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. it is definitely personal

They are doing everything they can to attack him.

[turbinetree]

10. If it squeals like a pig .................

Last edited Fri May 22, 2015, 10:26 AM - Edit history (1)

it must be a pig.

Well dear old right wing libertarian Joni Ernst lets start with your Pig Farm.
It got over $460,000 in taxpayer subsidies, so before you go around trying to be like Sam Brownback, or Scott Walker or whoever you want to emulate, maybe its time to start with yourself on this grandstanding

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=thread&address=10026132798

http://www.inquisitr.com/1777070/joni-ernst-on-welfare-gop-senators-family-took-460000-in-taxpayer-handouts/

[wolfie001]

11. The hog-slaughterer is as dumb as Looney Goobert R (TX)!

She never gave it a passing thought until.........Obama! Gee, I wonder why?

[DFW]

12. How many ex-presidents are alive now?

Two Democrats (and Jimmy Carter is 90) and two Bushes.

The two Democratic ex presidents are known for their charitable activities after leaving office, and the two Republican ex-presidents are known for being the father and brother, respectively, of one of the least impressive of a roster of unimpressive Republican candidates in the next election.

Just WHOSE perks is Sen. Ernst looking to curtail? In Germany, one might say "Senatorin Ernst ist nicht ernst zu nehmen."

("Senator Serious is not to be taken seriously.&quot

[Tom Ripley]

13. Such timing!

[hughee99]

31. She could have proposed under the previous administration,

but I don't think anyone would have listened to an Iowa County Auditor.

[Tom Ripley]

33. You have a point there

[cosmicone]

14. It is a white flag

It means there aren't going to be any repuke ex-POTUSes in the future.

Finally GWB may have his legacy and a place in history as "the last republican president"

[jwirr]

16. One can hope.

[valerief]

15. I'm more concerned about the TRILLIONS pissed away in WAR. nt

[heaven05]

17. trying to get it in

before Obama gets out, methinks........along with trying to hurt the democrats....won't hurt the dynasty kids anyway.

[d_legendary1]

18. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

especially when they are recipients of gubberment monies via farm subsidies.

[Half-Century Man]

19. Sure. While we are at it, lets cap expenses for serving members of congress at $20,000.00 a year.

or cap vacation days to 20 a year.
or cap donations to individuals with a pulse.
or cap hours spent on soliciting donations to 1 a day.
or cap hours spent out of the office to 16 a day (subject to health reasons).
etc

moran

[vkkv]

20. Worthless P.O.S. Republican! Cost of failing and grounded F-35 fighters that the Navy doesn't want?

$160,000,000.00 a piece (of shit)

The entire program is 467 BILLION over budget ! !

http://www.businessinsider.com/f-35-cost-2014-2

Suck on this PISTOL Joni !!!

[Orsino]

21. Cap spending on military and corporate subsidies if you're serious about "tightening," Senator.

But since you aren't, carry on, you poser piece of shit.

[hughee99]

22. I'll be honest, it seems to be that retired presidents do pretty well, financially.

I don't think any former, current, or future presidents are sweating this.

[Yupster]

30. I don't see this as a problem either

In an era when an ex president can make $ 100,000 for giving a speech, do they really need taxpayer support?

[BeyondGeography]

23. Hey, that woulda saved us a whole $2.7 million last year

The allowances cost taxpayers about $3.5 million in fiscal year 2014. The largest chunk of that — $1.2 million — went to office space. Pension benefits amounted to $804,000.

George W. Bush received benefits worth $1.3 million, while $944,000 went to Bill Clinton. George H.W. Bush received $830,000 in benefits and Jimmy Carter $466,000.

You can't say she isn't thinking big.

[randys1]

26. She hates the Black skin on the current Prez and the thought of him getting money from us

makes her angry as hell.

[liberal N proud]

28. Give them bread sacks

[quadrature]

29. how much does Pres.Obama need? ...nt

[fbc]

32. I agree but the amount saved is relatively insignificant

Past Presidents make plenty of money, and most of them are rich to begin with.