Despite spending more taxpayer's dollars on his own golf trips, President Barack Obama has cancelled White House tours, which are largely conducted by volunteers.
In the latest attempt to scare up some anger at Republicans for allowing him to sign his own Sequester cuts into law, Obama has refused to allow public access to the White House.
Congress has allowed traditional Capital tours for the public to continue without interruption.
Republican’s reaction to the cancellation of White House tours was to point out that cancelling a couple of Obama’s golfing excursions would pay for the tours.
Republican Rep.Louie Gohmert of Texas has proposed an amendment to a budget bill that would prohibit Obama from using federal money to travel to and from a golf courses until the White House resumes public tours. "All it will cost is one or two golf trips less," Gohmert said.
Gohmert's proposal failed due to debate rules however the move focused attention on the anti-Republican rhetoric and unnecessary politically-tinged cuts coming from team Obama.
Newt Gingrich and other Republicans also mocked Obama for continuing to enjoy playing golf while banning traditional tours of the White House. The Obama administration has cancelled public tours at the White House after Friday, citing $85 billion in automatic budget cuts that took effect over the weekend.
During Obama’s administration the U.S. has taken on $6 trillion in debt, averaging over a trillion dollars in deficit spending each year. The sequestration cuts amount to about a 2 percent reduction in government spending and the U.S. Senate, led by Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada, has not produced a national budget in four years.
Obama’s administration has transferred security personnel who normally oversee White House tours. In a statement, the service said "this staffing measure will reduce overtime costs overall and may ultimately reduce the number of potential furloughs necessary by our agency."
In a tweet, Gingrich referred to the president’s actions as child like. "Canceling White House tours is childish and dishonest -- the golf weekend in Florida cost enough to keep the White House open for months."
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