Posted on May 20, 2015
Congress wants to cut the pensions and allowances of former Presidents. Your thoughts?
5.01K
46
27
7
7
0
The bill would cap a former president’s lifetime federal benefits at $200,000 and allow him another $200,000 for an allowance. But for every dollar a president earned over $400,000 a year, this annual allowance would be deducted by a $1. (Apparently we’re now means testing our former presidents.)
Clinton last year received $950,000 from the federal government, about half for office space. Former President George W. Bush was paid about $1.3 million for his pension and expenses. If this bill was law, Clinton, who made around $9.7 million in speaking and book royalties in 2014, wouldn’t get any allowance at all.
======================================================
The author makes a rather snide comment that "apparently we’re now means testing our former presidents" --- WTH? We "means test" people who make a whole helluva lot less money all the time.
======================================================
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/05/19/congress-wants-to-cut-president-clintons-pension-federal-allowance/?tid=hpModule_308f7142-9199-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239&hpid=z16
Clinton last year received $950,000 from the federal government, about half for office space. Former President George W. Bush was paid about $1.3 million for his pension and expenses. If this bill was law, Clinton, who made around $9.7 million in speaking and book royalties in 2014, wouldn’t get any allowance at all.
======================================================
The author makes a rather snide comment that "apparently we’re now means testing our former presidents" --- WTH? We "means test" people who make a whole helluva lot less money all the time.
======================================================
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/05/19/congress-wants-to-cut-president-clintons-pension-federal-allowance/?tid=hpModule_308f7142-9199-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239&hpid=z16
Office of the President (POTUS)
Budget
Retirement
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
5
5
0
The President should Veto it when it gets to his desk just to see what they do. (this is a joke by the way). Then when they start to say something, say "Fix your retirement plan, then worry about mine. There's 535~ of you. There's 1 of me."
(5)
(0)
SGT Jeremiah B.
It's a joke, but it's true. If this was really about fiscal responsibility, they'd start with themselves.
(1)
(0)
4
4
0
Ditto what the majority here have said. It's a good start, now do the same with their own pensions AND active pay. Most of these a--holes are already millionaires and don't need their congressional pay!
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
It's a start! Now we need the ex-presidents to put a bill in to cut the salaries of Congress.
(4)
(0)
SFC Mark Merino
What will that really free up though? There are only so many ex-presidents still alive. They are going to spend more money trying to pass this bill than what they will save. Has Congress run out of good ideas? Didn't they pass the bill to increase the annual salary of the Congressional Good Idea Fairy?
(3)
(0)
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
I agree, but on the other hand, we have a lot of ex-presidents nowadays (and most of them are already millionaires). We do need to find savings wherever we can. Besides, if we can cut a little old lady's social security, we can damn sure cut this.
(3)
(0)
MSgt Neil Greenfield
SFC Mark Merino - It's called "low hanging fruit". There are so many stupid legislative actions taking place in both federal and state legislatures these days that I have little to no confidence that they will "do the right thing". Reality is not real for the common voter. Most of the people running for political office are doing it because it's a way for them to make money.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
There's only around 3-5 presidents alive at any given time. There are HUNDREDS of Congressmen. Something tells me this is entirely about spiting Clinton and Obama and absolutely nothing to do with "fiscal responsibility." They've probably spent more discussing it than they would save by actually doing it.
(3)
(0)
SGT Jeremiah B.
Also, in this thread, you can pick out the hardcore ideologues by how they gloss over W's $1.3m to focus on Clinton's $950k. Neither of those men are anything but loaded.
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
3
3
0
You know what, I can understand wanting to cut spend and be fiscally responsible, but there is a huge amount of hypocrisy in this measure. If they want to set an example and reduce spending, congress should first reduce their own wasteful spending before reducing the current leaders and former presidents of this country. Regardless of what you think of the current or former presidents, it is one of the most stressful positions in our government. Not to say yea or nay, but congress should definitely clean up their own house before they speak about another.
(3)
(0)
CSM Carlson C.
If you have a solution to the presented issue rather than lame banter, by all means please present an eloquently thought out retort, otherwise, carry on.
(1)
(0)
CSM Carlson C.
I completely agree that all should be able to opine an eloquent thought. However, as with all things, if your going to contribute to the conversation, bring a positive value to the flow of thought so that all are bettered, instead of denigrating the Commander's in Chief. As if they do not deserve vacation time or time away from the job. I call shenanigans.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
1
1
0
I am reminded of the story about a female CEO (I am afraid I can remember who or where it was).
She was criticized for nit picking the nickel and dime items in the corporation's budget.
She replied with words to the effect, everyone looks at an tries to control the big budget items. Further scrutiny is not needed there. Few watch the day to day small expenditures.
She was criticized for nit picking the nickel and dime items in the corporation's budget.
She replied with words to the effect, everyone looks at an tries to control the big budget items. Further scrutiny is not needed there. Few watch the day to day small expenditures.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
0
0
0
CUT! CUT! CUT! We spend millions on these people every year!
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2016/03/which-ex-president-cost-government-most-fiscal-2015/126826/
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2016/03/which-ex-president-cost-government-most-fiscal-2015/126826/
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google