Author Topic: Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform  (Read 336 times)

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Offline mystery-ak

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Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform
« on: October 13, 2018, 03:35:35 pm »
Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform
Demian Brady

Posted: Oct 13, 2018 12:01 AM

Former presidents are among the wealthiest people in the country. The “poorest” of them, Jimmy Carter, is worth $8 million, placing him near the fabled “one percent” of richest Americans. Bill and Hillary Clinton earned a reported $229 million in the fifteen years after the conclusion of his second term as president. And despite this fantastic wealth, taxpayers subsidize former presidents to the tune of $4 million per year because of an antiquated benefit system.

Since 2000, taxpayers have paid out $63 million in benefits and office allowances to the five living former presidents (plus $5 million to President Ford and $4 million to President Reagan). President Clinton, worth an estimated $76 million, has received the most benefits, collecting over $21 million since the turn of the century. Obama is on pace to top that with annual payouts of $1.4 million.

The benefit system was set up in 1958 for President Truman, who was in financial distress upon leaving office. No one wanted to see a former president in poverty, so a law was enacted to “maintain the dignity” of the office. The Former Presidents Act provided benefits that includes funding for travel, office space, staff, and supplies to assist with remaining duties related to their time in office. The benefits also include health care and a pension equal to the pay level for cabinet chiefs.

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https://townhall.com/columnists/demianbrady/2018/10/13/postpresidency-perks-are-ripe-for-reform-n2527278
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Offline endicom

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Re: Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2018, 04:12:15 pm »

Fine, but similar should apply to all federal workers. There we're talking some real money.


Offline Sanguine

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Re: Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2018, 04:47:33 pm »
Fine, but similar should apply to all federal workers. There we're talking some real money.

They shouldn't get their pensions?

Offline endicom

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Re: Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2018, 04:56:28 pm »
They shouldn't get their pensions?


Not too-generous pensions.


Offline EasyAce

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Re: Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2018, 09:38:51 pm »
Personally, I like the idea of the Presidential Allowance Modernisation Act, but I'm pretty damn well sure it's going to die a death before getting out of committee in either chamber of Congress. Who really thinks a Congress that can still spend us into oblivion with a president who still rants his head off against such spending until the day he signs the damn bills is going to cut off the goodies for the ex-presidents?

And while we're at it, how about we have done with the practise of addressing former political leaders by the title of their last known held office? This isn't a goddam monarchy no matter how many sheep still think of our presidents and our elected representatives as the saviours they aren't. You don't hold the office as an incumbent, don't expect me to address you as mayor, governor, senator, congressmanperson, or president. We didn't elect you mayor, governor, senator, congressmanperson, or president for life, you know.


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Offline Slide Rule

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Re: Post-Presidency Perks Are Ripe for Reform
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2018, 01:22:32 pm »
Well I am for stopping any further support of former President Truman. Hell,
most young folks couldn't name him let alone pick him out in a line up.

The more recent presidents stole enough already that they don't need it.


:)
« Last Edit: October 14, 2018, 01:24:36 pm by Slide Rule »
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