by John Lannefeld

Created on: April 10, 2009

Secret service protection for former chief executives is an expensive and unreasonable cost to the American taxpayer. Not since Harry Truman have former presidents had to concern themselves with a penurious lifestyle. Today, a former president is able to generate significant wealth after his term of office is completed; they typically reap hundreds of thousands of dollars for speaking engagements and corporate board positions. Furthermore, the taxpayer is extremely generous with respect to presidential pensions. Annual pensions have increased from $25,000 in 1958 to almost $200,000 annually. In addditions to pensions, they also receive an office allowance for staff, office rents, office supplies, travel funds, telephones and free mail. In some cases, these expenses can be extremely significant: Gerald Ford spent $17,000 on stationary and pencils in his last year; Bill Clinton racked up an astounding $75,000 phone bill and travel expenses amounted to well over $50,000 a year for both President Clinton and George H.W. Bush. In fact, according to some, the best part of serving as president is the post presidency. When one considers the significant personal wealth of the formers, much of which was gained as a direct result of having served in the office, it seems unreasonable to burden the taxpayers with their personal security, let alone their personal needs.

Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union questions the "exorbitant level of presidential pensions in an age where ex-presidents are gold", he goes on to say: "the presidential pension system is probably the only syatem of perks that outdoes the cushy benefits for members of congress". He concludes by saying, "In an age where ex-presidents can rake in millions of dollars, it seems pointless to guarantee them a system of extremely lavish lifetime benefits". Gone are the days of Harry Truman who said, "I could never lend myself to any transaction, however respectable, that would commercialize on the prestige and dignity of the office of the presidency."

Secret service protection is above and beyond the above mentioned expenses and is estimated to cost the taxpayer upwards of $24 million a year. In 2009, the service is charged with the protection of Presidents Carter, Bush Sr, Clinton, George Bush and their spouses. With the exception of President George Bush this protection is for their lifetimes, Bush and future former presidents will receive the protection for ten years, and after such time will be entitled

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