M. Obama vacation-30 rms at 5 star hotel

[Wild Cobra]

Aren't Secret Service members on salary though, being government employees? It's not like they don't get paid if they're not used, correct?

salary? I don't know. Still, if they go away from home, I'm all but certain they get paid more. Doesn't that stand to reason?

I used to have a job that I was paid $21.60/hr. in the early 90's. If I was on standby, to be called at a moments notice, I got paid an $5.00 per hour just to sit at home and do anything, but I couldn't get intoxicated. If I was away for business.... I was paid something like $38 per hour for a minimum 8 worked, plus the $5 per hour for hours not worked,plus per-diem.

And considering that Mic e paid for all the rooms (assuming the article is correct) then that isn't a factor.

If she paid for all the rooms, I don't have a problem in that aspect. I stated this before. I still think the first family is taking more vacations than they should for the state of the economy, and compared to how other presidents took their vacations. Doesn't it stand to reason that they should be considerate of tax dollar expenditures that they have control over?

[Wild Cobra]

how much more expensive do you think it is than going to Crawford or Chicago?

Wild guess....

At least $40,000 per day more. I know, not a whole lot compared to government spending, but it's the principle.

[Wild Cobra]

Well, I imagine that whenever a first lady travels, the Secret Service has to take precautionary measures. I don't think the first lady gets to decide how many security agents accompany her. I'm also fairly certain that other first ladies have taken vacation and had to have security accompany them when they did, whether it is here is the US or abroad. Are you all alleging that Mic e Obama demands greater security than the others? Or that she's had more hotel stays than than the others, whether here or abroad?

I agree, and for vacations I have no problem if the Obama's pay what it would cost for a plane ticket and rooms, etc.

My problem is the frequency of vacations, and in this economy. Shouldn't they set an example if they wish to be seen as leaders?

[LnGrrrR]

lngr, I imagine they get paid extra. They have to hve a type of tdy and per diem. So I don't think it is exactly the same pay.

Good point; this is probably valid.

WC, point taken about vacation time as well.

[Blake]

Wild guess....

At least $40,000 per day more. I know, not a whole lot compared to government spending, but it's the principle.

.....We checked with the White House for a price breakdown of the trip, looking for a smoking gun. And honestly, there isn’t one. The bulk of the trip—the hotel stay and all meals—were paid for by the Obamas and their close friends who joined them. “Any additional footprint,” says a White House aide, “including additional rooms needed for security support, falls under the same rules as have applied to any previous first-family travel: the costs are split appropriately, with private expenses paid for privately; government expenses are paid for by the government.”..........

http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-ga...pain-trip.html

[ChumpDumper]

I agree, and for vacations I have no problem if the Obama's pay what it would cost for a plane ticket and rooms, etc.

My problem is the frequency of vacations, and in this economy. Shouldn't they set an example if they wish to be seen as leaders?

If that is the case, they should be spending more money on as many vacations as possible.