I think ending all White House tours is a big mistake [View all]

[cali]

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration told members of Congress on Tuesday that it was canceling all White House tours beginning on Saturday because of the $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts that went into effect last week.

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A spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service said that officers who would be assigned tpo the tours would be reassigned to other posts at the White House. “This staffing measure will reduce overtime costs overall and may ultimately reduce the number of potential furloughs necessary by our agency,” said Max Milien, the spokesman.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/us/politics/white-house-suspending-tours-over-budget-cuts.html?_r=0

Whispers hears that staff aren't too pleased with the announcement Tuesday that the White House is canceling all future tours of the building due to sequestration, the across-the-board spending cuts that went into effect last Friday.

White House staff members are now tasked with informing numerous spring and summer constituents who booked White House tours that the walk-throughs have been canceled.

White House tours, which are actually self-guided and take place in the mornings on Tuesday through Saturday (except on federal holidays), are generally reserved through a constituent's congressman or congresswoman. The White House is an especially popular destination in the Spring.

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http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2013/03/05/white-house-staff-not-pleased-tours-canceled-due-to-sequestration

First of all, how much can it save? As noted above the tours are self guided and what about the extra work entailed in notifying all those who have booked tours through the Spring and Summer? Secondly, the administration has some discretion about where to cut, and there are surely other places in the WH that could be cut.

Public perception is important and from a PR standpoint this is lousy.

It's supposed to be the peoples' house