Who Foots the Bill?
The Lovely Lainey and I were watching the parade of pundits on the TV news explain to us why certain government cabinet and agency appointments are brilliant or why they are the worst thing that could happen to America.
Of course, it is obvious the mainstream media is fully invested in making sure we are all made aware of the coming destruction of America by the new Trump Administration. One expert compared the next four years to the Bubonic Plague while others were more moderate using Pearl harbor and 911 as comparisons.
Lainey got right down to the basic question, “who is paying for these Transition Team expenses? There is a lot of expensive travel involved. Surely, these political wannabees are doing this on their own dime!”
I confess. I was stumped. I vaguely remembered an amendment to the basic bill governing Presidential Transition Team rules so I googled it. Just for you and the Lovely Lainey, of course.
The People Pay for the Peaceful Transition
The short answer is we are paying for the transition. The federal government pays some and donations (from us) pays for some. Hey, nothing is free.
The House agreed to the Senate amendment on 07/26/1988 to the Presidential Transitions Effectiveness Act which amends the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 to increase the authorized appropriations to the Administrator of General Services to provide services and facilities to:
(1) the President-elect and Vice President-elect in connection with the preparation of their assumption of official duties; and
(2) the former President and former Vice President in connection with winding up their affairs.
Translated: Trump gets some and Obama gets some. And since Joe didn’t run: a required specified amount will not be returned to the Treasury because the former Vice President is not the incumbent President. It reads like this:
Requires amounts authorized for presidential transition costs to be increased by an inflation adjusted amount to reflect the actual increases in such costs since the previous presidential transition.
Requires the President-elect and the Vice President-elect to disclose to the Administrator all private money received for use in their preparation for the assumption of official duties. Requires the Administrator to make such disclosures public.
Requires the President-elect and the Vice President-elect to disclose to the public a list of the names of all transition personnel and the most recent employment and source of funding which support the transition activities of such personnel. Requires public disclosures to be made before the initial transition team contacts a Federal department or agency.
Prohibits the President-elect and the Vice President-elect from accepting more than $5,000 from any person, organization, or other entity for transition purposes.
Authorizes the use of Government aircraft for transition purposes, on a reimbursable basis, if requested by the President-elect or the Vice President-elect, or their designee, and approved by the President. Provides that when the President-elect or the Vice President-elect request the use of a chartered aircraft, any collections received from persons occupying space on such aircraft shall be deposited to the credit of appropriations for presidential transitions.
Requires the President-elect and Vice President-elect to provide an estimate to the Administrator of the aggregate value of in-kind contributions made between November 9, 1988, and January 20, 1989, which were received for transition planning purposes for: (1) transportation; (2) hotel and other accommodations; (3) office space; and (4) furniture, furnishings, office machines and equipment, and office supplies. Requires the Administrator to make such information available to the public.
Authorizes the payment of certain travel and transportation expenses for any individual performing presidential transition activities.
Authorizes the President to fill executive agency vacancies for not more than 120 days (under current law, not more than 30 days), unless a nomination to fill such vacancy has been submitted to the Senate. Declares that if such nomination has been made, the designated person may serve: (1) until the Senate confirms the nomination; (2) for not more than 120 days after the Senate rejects the nomination or the nomination is withdrawn; or (3) if designated when the Congress has adjourned sine die, for no more than 120 days after the Congress next convenes.
The Losers are Lathered Up
All incoming presidents before Trump and his team have harvested big public payouts to aid with their move into the White House, including $7 million in Congress-appropriated funds for transition and appointee costs. It’s similar to Corporate “Executive Relocation Packages” given to new executives.
Wake up America
We don’t need more federally appointed officials. They are not experienced, this is political nepotism. This happens every time a new administration arrives. How about really draining the swamp instead of replacing the alligators?
Never fear. This old Marine is here. Help me fight the good fight. Support my efforts, or the efforts of others who are trying to keep the public truthfully informed with the real news.
God Bless us all and God Save our America. Our Constitution, our culture, our country, our civilization, our currency, our children, our liberty, our safety and swamp need you now more than ever.
Is this book in season?
Well, yea. Look at the cover. It has George Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night. Picture perfect.
20/20: A Clear Vision for America is priced perfectly. A priceless value. You can spend a lot more, but your recipient will never receive as much value as a gift that is personally inscribed and signed by the author. And the author pays all shipping and handling charges plus any applicable taxes. There are no extra charges.
All this value for so little effort. No shopping. No lugging stuff. No standing in long lines. No looking for your auto in a cold parking lot. It’s all done for you.
The Gift with the Perfect Message
The reader will learn how to regain our country’s liberty and freedom. They will relate to the 20 solutions to America’s 20 worst problems that are intensified by senseless policies imposed by the political establishment. 20/20: A Clear Vision for America is a book of common-sense answers written in a style readers can readily identify with.
Something Extra Special for that Extra Special Person
Did you know many of us support inventors, authors, artists and other entrepreneurs through crowdfunding? It’s a wonderful way to help independent creators bring their projects to life.
Did you know that many authors use the names of their family and friends as characters in their books? It is a way to honor and memorialize loved ones.
Do you know that I am writing a new book and need family and friends to help tell the story of the Constitution and other important topics? Did you know that I want to honor you with a part in the narrative?
Do you know that the names of my backers and supporters are on my webpage? Do you know that those backers and supporters will also be acknowledged forever in print in my new book?
Do you know that I would be honored to have your name listed as one of my backers and supporters? Do you know that I want you to be on my team? Did you know how important it is that I hear from you?
Do you know there will be a void in my book and in my heart if you don’t appear in my new 20/20 Vision book? It’s safe and easy to go to my website and pledge $250, $100, or $50 and you’ll get lots of priceless rewards including lots of signed books as gifts to your family and friends who will read your name in the new book. Time is running out. I need your name now!
Subscribe to Bill's monthly newsletter!
Please enter your name and e-mail below, and we will add you to our mailing list.
Finally, an author who brings you solutions, instead of problems.
Americans have lost faith in their overreaching federal government. “We the People” don’t need to be overregulated or have their taxes misspent. Americans are victims of a crumbling economy, high prices and stagnant wages. They view government as bloated and politicians as corrupt.
They do not trust the leadership at any level. They see politicians of both parties as self-centered narcissists whose only objective is re-election. The author is like you, with one principal difference and 20 reasons for optimism. His “Vision” of America is “clear.” It is a vision of the Constitution and America the way it could be, the way it should be. The author’s eyesight is twenty-twenty.
Recent Comments