"In an effort to save and cut back unnecessary cash flow, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order for federal agencies to curtail travel expenses and save. This will hopefully amass about $4 billion in savings or roughly 20% of the budget."
It makes sense given our federal budget deficit.
So why is First Lady off and flying to Hawaii on her own again?
Frankly, this is obscene and pay attention:
"Not counting expenditures relating to staff and security or the cost of the cargo plane that typically trails the first lady's jet, this year Michelle must have felt entitled to another 10-hour, $6,330-per-flight-hour trip from Washington DC to the $3,500-a-day Winter White House in Hawaii. Christmas 2010 and 2011's early arrivals cost approximately $200,000.
Last summer, prior to Obama arriving in Martha's Vineyard, Michelle did a similar thing. Unable to control her impatience to hit the beach, Mrs. Obama and her girls grabbed a "little bit of extra vacation" -- all of four hours' worth.
Mrs. Obama, accompanied by daughters Sasha and Malia, boarded a US government jet just a few hours ahead of the President, who flew into a local airport later that evening accompanied by Bo, the family dog. The First Lady also had "her own motorcade from the airport to her vacation residence." The cost of the four-hours-early arrival for the Martha's Vineyard summer vacation 2011 was reported to be around $100,000.
While kids are writing Santa Claus this year to ask for warm coats and shoes that fit, it's likely many Americans still feel that "Mrs. Obama's separate jet travel sends the wrong message on a host of issues, from global warming to the budget deficit to the economy -- in which currently so many people can't afford to take a vacation at all."
Which brings us back to the original question of why Michelle, after being criticized for allegedly spending more than $10 million of public money on luxurious vacations, would board yet another plane for the third time in 12 months and, while doing so, audaciously jack up the annual Michelle Obama Early Vacation air travel cost to more than $300K?"
We understand that the First Lady is entitled to security and protection. However, should she be traveling so much when her husband signed an executive order telling federal employees to travel wisely?
P.S. We spoke with Jeannie DeAngilis on Wednesday:
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