Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Michelle Obama's Africa trip: Cost to US tax payers

The use of Air Force aircraft alone for the June 21-27 trip cost $424,142

Amplify’d from blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Without all the figures available, it is impossible to establish the total cost to the public purse of Michelle Obama’s 42 days of holiday during that period, which included her trip to Spain last year (though not the Obamas' recent sojourn in Martha’s Vineyard).

But we do now know for sure that her visit to Africa in June, with a sizeable entourage in tow, cost taxpayers at the very minimum $424,142 in transportation costs, according to figures obtained by Washington-based watchdog Judicial Watch. As the 'Washington Whispers' blog at US News and World Report noted:

Michelle Obama with her daughters in South Africa in June. (Photo: AP)

Michelle Obama with her daughters in South Africa in June. (Photo: AP)

First lady Michelle Obama's family trip to South Africa and Botswana in June cost taxpayers well over $424,000, according to new accounting based on Air Force manifests obtained by Judicial Watch, a taxpayer watchdog group.

The use of Air Force aircraft alone for the June 21-27 trip cost $424,142, said the group, and that doesn't include the food, lodging, and ground transportation for the 21 family and staff members.

This trip was as much an opportunity for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a trip to conduct government business. This junket wasted tax dollars and the resources of our overextended military. No wonder we had to sue to pry loose this information.

Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk
 

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