Judicial Watch: Obama Golf, Fundraising Trips Cost $4.4 Million
Thursday, 15 Oct 2015 04:47 PM
President Barack Obama's golf outings and fundraising trips in February and March of this year cost taxpayers $4.4 million, according to records obtained by Judicial Watch.
Citing Air Force records received through two Freedom of Information Act requests, Judicial Watch reported on four trips taken by Obama. The Secret Service has not responded to FOIA requests about the costs of security on the trips, the group said.
"Taxpayers should be outraged that Barack Obama wastes $4.4 million of their precious tax dollars on golf vacations and political fundraising," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.
"And to make matters worse, the Secret Service has simply refused to respond to our requests for documents about the security costs of these controversial trips. The Obama travel scandal is about abuse of office, abuse of the taxpayer, and contempt for the rule of law."
Judicial Watch used the Air Force's official cost estimate of $206,337 per hour to fly the president in Air Force One. Based on those numbers, the group determined:
The Chicago trip was billed as nonpolitical, Judicial Watch said, but noted that a CNN story on the trip showed otherwise, with Obama stopping at a re-election campaign office for his former chief of staff Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The Los Angeles trip was for no other purpose than raising money for the Democratic National Committee and to support Democrats nationally.
The Florida trip was a golf outing at the Floridian National Golf Club, where members pay a $50,000 initiation fee and $15,000 in annual dues.
Judicial Watch previously reported that Michelle Obama's 2014 China trip to China cost more than $360,000 for air transportation and that trips by both Obama to Africa and Honolulu cost taxpayers $15.9 million in flight expenses.
According to Judicial Watch the total known travel expenses of the Obamas and Vice President Joe Biden are more than $61 million.
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Citing Air Force records received through two Freedom of Information Act requests, Judicial Watch reported on four trips taken by Obama. The Secret Service has not responded to FOIA requests about the costs of security on the trips, the group said.
"Taxpayers should be outraged that Barack Obama wastes $4.4 million of their precious tax dollars on golf vacations and political fundraising," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.
Judicial Watch used the Air Force's official cost estimate of $206,337 per hour to fly the president in Air Force One. Based on those numbers, the group determined:
- Obama's February 14 golf outing to Palm Springs, California required a five-hour flight, costing taxpayers $1.03 million.
- Transportation for Obama's February 19 day trip to Chicago cost taxpayers $619,011.
- Transportation for Obama's March fundraising trip to Los Angeles cost taxpayers $1.98 million.
- Obama's March 28 golf outing to Palm City, Florida required a 3.9-hour flight, costing taxpayers $804,870.30.
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The Los Angeles trip was for no other purpose than raising money for the Democratic National Committee and to support Democrats nationally.
The Florida trip was a golf outing at the Floridian National Golf Club, where members pay a $50,000 initiation fee and $15,000 in annual dues.
Judicial Watch previously reported that Michelle Obama's 2014 China trip to China cost more than $360,000 for air transportation and that trips by both Obama to Africa and Honolulu cost taxpayers $15.9 million in flight expenses.
According to Judicial Watch the total known travel expenses of the Obamas and Vice President Joe Biden are more than $61 million.
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