WASHINGTON, March 6 (UPI) — Public tours at the White House have been canceled due to the automatic $85 billion in across-the-board cuts to federal spending, administration officials said.
The move, told to congressional offices Tuesday by email, drew jabs from congressional Republican aides who questioned the Obama’s administration’s commitment to transparency and open government, Politico reported.
Public tours are set up by the offices of members of Congress.
“Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House Tours will be canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013, until further notice. Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours,” the White House email said. “We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular spring touring season.”
A senior administration official confirmed the cancellations to Politico.
“So much for the most open administration in history,” the congressional GOP aide said. “I guess the only way for the public to visit the White House now is to donate to Organizing for Action,” the president’s non-profit organization.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).
I was listening to commentary on this and it turns out the tour staff is all volunteers and you get the tickets for free. Now add this to his education secretary who said teachers were already being laid off but after checking none were and he received the four pinocchio’s award from a leading paper for lying. And of course releasing 200 criminal illegals before the sequester even kicked in which turned out to be 2000 and no one knows how it happened. The best one today was the memo from an agricultural staff member to the white house that said he could save money without drastic cuts and the reply to him was ok as long as it goes along with the presidents forecast. In other words make it look bad. Lies on top of more lies. All this bs is about trying to scare the public and take the house in 2014 so he can ram all his give away programs down our throats. Send this knuckle dragger back to Chicago.