"Bush, Family and Top Aides Received $127,600 Gifts from Saudi Prince"

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON - For President Bush, the first family and Bush's top aides, the most generous foreign leader last year - by far - was Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.

The State Department's annual tally of gifts to administration officials shows that Abdullah gave them $127,600 in jewelry and other presents last year, including a diamond-and-sapphire jewelry set for first lady Laura Bush that was valued at $95,500.

The Saudi royal family's gifts dwarfed those of other world leaders, according to the tally, and easily eclipsed Abdullah's $55,020 in gifts in 2002. Abdullah has been Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler since 1996 after a stroke sidelined King Fahd.

All of Abdullah's gifts, and most others, sit in the National Archives. By law, federal employees must report all gifts received from foreign governments. The president and vice president and their families can't keep any gifts worth more than $285, which become federal property. While in office, however, they can take the items out on indefinite loan from the Archives.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0805-06.htm

[Must_B_Free]

1. $50 was the limit on my job

anything higher was not appropriate to receive as a gift.

$95,000 is rather exorbitant.

[G_j]

2. kick