New presidents are allotted $100,000 to overhaul the White House residence and the Oval Office to their liking. They may also tap the White House Historical Association, a privately funded foundation, for minor redecorating to the White House as they please (Laura Bush used this foundation to purchase $74,000 worth of china only months before leaving Washington). So now that the Obama family is fully settled into their new home, they’re prepared to begin redecorating by utilizing all the government finances and foundations at their disposal, right? WRONG!!!`
President and Mrs. Obama have decided to forego using public funds or soliciting donations and just pay for any and all remodeling THEMSELVES! They don’t have to do this since federal funds for their home improvements are already budgeted and available. They are doing so because they want to, and because they’ve just made the personal choice to save the American taxpayer some money in these difficult financial times. Although the Obamas are on record as earning a combined $4.2 million last year, their act of courtesy is virtually unprecedented. When’s the last time you heard of a U.S. President doing something like this?
DJ:"Although the Obamas are on record as earning a combined $4.2 million last year, their act of courtesy is virtually unprecedented. When's the last time you heard of a U.S. President doing something like this?"I'm not aware that it's ever happened before(?)Certainly NOT in modern American history!The Obamas exude "Class" _and make me SO PROUD to have them in the White House as this nation's "FIRST Family."