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TexasTowelie

(112,237 posts) Mon Mar 25, 2013, 06:58 PM Mar 2013

Nearly $3.7M spent by taxpayers on ex-presidents in 2012

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — Being the leader of the free world is an expensive proposition. But the costs don't stop once you leave the White House.

The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service says the federal government spent nearly $3.7 million on former presidents last year. That covers a $200,000 pension, compensation and benefits for office staff, and other costs like travel, office space and postage.

The costliest former president? George W. Bush, who clocked in at just over $1.3 million. That includes almost $400,000 for 8,000 square feet of office space and $85,000 in telephone costs.

President Bill Clinton came in second at just under $1 million, followed by George H.W. Bush at nearly $850,000. Costs for Jimmy Carter, the only other living former president, came in at about $500,000.

Read more: http://www.caller.com/news/2013/mar/25/nearly-37m-spent-taxpayers-ex-presidents-2012/

13 replies

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Nearly $3.7M spent by taxpayers on ex-presidents in 2012 (Original Post) TexasTowelie Mar 2013 OP

Security most certainly is needed but I think they should have to operate within a budget beyond Purveyor Mar 2013 #1

I agree Andy823 Mar 2013 #7

Not Security erpowers Mar 2013 #12

Anyone want to guess if Faux Snooze will report this? BumRushDaShow Mar 2013 #2

400,000 for 8,000 office? Arctic Dave Mar 2013 #3

Operating costs can add up. DollarBillHines Mar 2013 #4

According to this, Clinton's office is 8,715 square feet for $399,931. hughee99 Mar 2013 #5

Both are ridiculous. Arctic Dave Mar 2013 #6

$400,000 for 8,000 square feet is $50/sq. foot . . . markpkessinger Mar 2013 #10

Your averages are from the 30 largest cities. Arctic Dave Mar 2013 #11

Here's a real cost-saving issue for Paul Ryan ... Auggie Mar 2013 #8

At least Carter and Clinton are working to better humanity. Beacool Mar 2013 #9

And $3.7 million is what percent of Federal Expenditures again? markpkessinger Mar 2013 #13

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)

1. Security most certainly is needed but I think they should have to operate within a budget beyond

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 07:03 PM

Mar 2013

that.

Andy823

(11,495 posts)

7. I agree

Reply to Purveyor (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 08:49 PM

Mar 2013

Security is OK, but other than that they should pay their own way. How many hundreds of thousands of dollars do they make speaking at events? They can surely afford to pay for their own office space, postage, and staff.

erpowers

(9,350 posts)

12. Not Security

Reply to Purveyor (Reply #1)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 08:41 AM

Mar 2013

The costs you are looking at are not security costs. The security costs are in another budget that is not published. The costs you are looking at only include travel, office space, pensions, and postage.

BumRushDaShow

(129,088 posts)

2. Anyone want to guess if Faux Snooze will report this?

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 07:13 PM

Mar 2013

How about Michele BachKKKman?

Arctic Dave

(13,812 posts)

3. 400,000 for 8,000 office?

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 07:44 PM

Mar 2013

WTF!? 50 bucks a square foot for office space!?

FFS, that's bigger then 95% of most peoples homes.

Added:

That is more expensive then office space in Beverly Hills!

DollarBillHines

(1,922 posts)

4. Operating costs can add up.

Reply to Arctic Dave (Reply #3)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 08:14 PM

Mar 2013

I am sure that $400K is inclusive.

Personally, I would like to divide that figure by the amount of time that the little shit actually spends in his "office".

hughee99

(16,113 posts)

5. According to this, Clinton's office is 8,715 square feet for $399,931.

Reply to Arctic Dave (Reply #3)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 08:15 PM

Mar 2013

That's his renewed lease, his old lease for the same space was over $500k.

http://observer.com/2010/11/bill-clinton-has-lavish-taste-even-in-office-space/

Arctic Dave

(13,812 posts)

6. Both are ridiculous.

Reply to hughee99 (Reply #5)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 08:18 PM

Mar 2013

Nothing but pure vanity for all of them.

markpkessinger

(8,401 posts)

10. $400,000 for 8,000 square feet is $50/sq. foot . . .

Reply to Arctic Dave (Reply #6)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 10:43 PM

Mar 2013

. . . The national average, as reported in a study last year, for commercial office space was $37.90. Considering former President are most likely to have office spaces in major urban centers, where the price would be expected to be higher than the overall national average, $50 per square foot is hardly all that far out of line.

http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/newsDetail.jsp?Country=US&Language=EN&repId=c50800002p