WHITE HOUSE SALARIES IN 2011

A couple of days ago I read an article at Townhall.com written by Molly O’Toole with a Washington (Reuters) byline regarding 2010 and 2011 White House staff salaries. Since 1995 Congress has required the White House to deliver an annual report listing the salary and title of every WH staff member.

It is beyond your Commander’s comprehension that to maintain the White House 454 employees and an expenditure of $37,121,463 is necessary. More than 30% (over 136 people) earn between $100,000 and $200,000 a year, while 154 take home less than $50,000 according to the 2011 White House annual report on staff. Those earning the highest salaries include John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; Press Secretary James Carney; William Daley, Chief of Staff; and Director of Speechwriting Jonathan Favreau. The average 2011 White House staff salary is about $82,000.

All this coming from a President who, as a candidate, promised to review the budget line by line and cut all waste from government under his administration. The report says that the White House staff was reduced by 15 individuals in 2010, and salaries reduced by $1,674,844 (an average of $111,656). The expense is still excessive when you consider the economic pressures experienced by the average citizen of this country.

I applaud the transparency this report presents, but this certainly appears to be an excessive number of people and expense serving one President, his wife, two children and one Mother-In-Law. Your Commander suggests that our President is living large, or “High On The Hog” at the good old American taxpayer’s expense. Yes, those who were gullible enough to put this guy in the White House in the first place and those smart enough to choose another candidate.

COMMANDER GRANGER