Alex Pappas of the Daily Caller examines the Obama administration’s unwillingness to release information about the president’s use of taxpayer-funded resources for political fundraising.
When President Barack Obama takes Air Force One on a fundraising swing, he is required under the law to reimburse taxpayers for certain travel expenses.
But as Mark Knoller of CBS News reports, the White House has made it a practice of not publicly releasing specific reimbursement figures, making it impossible for the public to see exactly how much they pay every time the president goes on a political trip.
Knoller says it’s not about national security reasons, but rather about saving face.
“Very simply, the White House doesn’t want to disclose the material because it might be embarrassing and would draw lots of criticism, which Mr. Obama can do without,” Knoller reports.
Obama isn’t the only president to not release the figures. Previous White Houses have also refused to give a specific breakdown.
“As in other administrations, we follow all rules and regulations to ensure that the DNC or other relevant political committee pays what is required for the president to travel to political events,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz told CBS News.
