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GOP senators wonder whether White House tours really had to be suspended as part of the sequester
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-- -- Republican lawmakers are also -- in the White House decision to suspend public tourists and they're going directly President Obama for -- senate job arrested trying to cents a -- everything suddenly you're on the floor last night I should add dead helping out dissident rainfall last night as the site.
Is there -- -- -- three and three quarter hours and I think he did a remarkable job and he deserved answers and he finally got -- indeed he did get them today are now you have we're part of a group that sent a letter to the White House about the tour.
What did you say and why did you do it.
Well I've been having to call families my staff has in Washington in Wyoming two who were planning to come here families for their spring break.
Some of these and so kind of once in a lifetime opportunity they want to see the White House the people's house and the president to me appears very heady in making this decision to close the White House it seems if you're not well connected -- well -- you're not welcome.
In the White House.
These days the American people deserve better this is really -- Focusing folks on spending because people think about.
Half of the money they send to Washington the form of taxes is wasted and they're looking at this and saying.
-- can't keep the White House open for tourists but yet there's money wasted over here there's this.
Program that overlaps with that program so I think it really has people focused on this spending and why is the president doing this because he couldn't get the tax races that he's won it.
Cancer that I really try explain that when when people come to Washington they go to the members of congress both sides reality assert that they get tickets to the white house of free tickets but we make arrangements because there's only so many opportunities per day now there are no opportunities but.
The capitals still open our office building users are still open so -- the past -- that you just talked to him for anybody.
Around the country wants to come to Washington they are -- welcome in the -- -- tour and in his kids -- -- -- -- -- -- you can we'll make sure that is an unforgettable once a lifetime experience for them.
What we learned is it's about 74000.
Dollars a week is really what the cost as a Secret Service for instance to do have these -- And then you look at these numbers and you mentioned the ways to find ways the the GSA -- -- they -- basically guys talk about here with a guy in the bathtub with a two I'm actually wine -- -- as allies not tell us about what 800000 dollars or so the next ten weeks.
Quit and then they'd just -- -- good censor what can we can keep them the White House tour is open for ten weeks.
But the thing that's so as distressing Greta to so many people.
Is when they look at the amount of the cost of that -- look at how other money is being spent they just say this is absolutely ridiculous.
And they did.
And the president should try to make any of these cuts.
Really minimize the impact instead it seems like he's trying to maximize the pain and the fear -- -- sequester and you see was it.
With the TSA they just had fifty million dollars for new uniforms.
And it was done the same day.
Just ahead of of the Department of Transportation was saying well you're gonna have to wait in line.
No longer in ninety minute delays for flights the same day they spend fifty million dollars when you know.
-- you know I don't mean to pick on the present not the president travel around see people around the country that's important part of being president.
But until we hear the number -- 180000 dollars an hour to run Air Force One.
You know perhaps you know that there -- could when they could choose your shifts a little wiser Kennedy mean even even one hour Air Force One keeps the tour line open for two weeks yeah.
And I believe ultimately the White House -- has really has gone too far they're gonna have to reverse this because they know they made a mistake on this I believe.
Thought it was deliberate political well I think it was very petty on the part of the White House because they're.
One a show -- -- this -- Questar has impacts on people and against I think that you know you get a leader they ought to try to minimize the impact.
On the American people -- the public isn't bothered by these things.
The American folks know that we as a nation spend too much money and we need to get the spending under the control so this is really focusing.
That discussion one of all the wasteful spending.
Yeah I think -- -- not thinking whether that he hasn't had taken some people think it's a political decision and done deliberately by the present president -- didn't make the decision at all is made by somebody else and I suspect that the idea what's an easy way to skim off some money to try to put -- into another pocket to take care of Secret Service on overtime resentment.
But this one has really certainly this is a case some people not thinking that I don't think that -- I don't think it's a case of being -- handle.
Although over the last week in a million on the roof of the reporters who looked into this just sounds so many false statements what are exactly -- yeah talking about all the pink slips for teachers never happen the president is press conference saying that.
Well these you know janitors service people we're gonna low low their salaries are going to be cut.
Not true and all meals on wheels weren't going to be delivered I'm not true look at the whole nice jab Tony would add that I created and that we've got me and that -- and that's a serious -- instruments.
