How Much Will We Be Paying Obama Now That He’s A Former President? Here’s The Answer.

This is positively PAINFUL to read, you guys.  I’m just warning you.

And look, it’s not like I didn’t KNOW that former presidents had a pretty cush life after being in the White House.  But I wasn’t aware of just HOW cush.  And now I am, and now I almost wish I could go back to being happily oblivious.

But I can’t.  And you can’t either, if you’re about to read this.  Because according to this, you and I are about to shell out a lot of money to keep the Obamas in the lap of luxury.

Former presidents receive an annual pension of $205,000.  As in, they get that for the rest of their lives.  There’s no means testing – so if the Obamas continue to make millions from book sales and speaking fees, they’ll continue to happily pull money right out of your wallet and mine to fund their annual pension.

But that’s not all.  They’ll also get “transitioning money” plus a huge allowance for private office staff ($150,000 annually for the first 30 months and then $96,000 thereafter.)

Oh, and about that transitioning money. Funny story about that.  Obama’s 2017 budget, according to the Congressional Research Office, sought $4 million in appropriations for former presidents (a 17% increase over 2016).  Extraordinary timing, wouldn’t you say?  He also asked for $9.5 million for the GSA to “carry out” the Presidential Transition Act, which includes $1 million for “briefing personnel associated with the incoming administration.”

I’m sorry – WHAT?  It takes a million dollars to brief people now?  Seriously?

Oh, and he also wants $7.6 million ON TOP of the $9.5 million for “data migration services and for other transition related administrative expenses.”

I can’t.

And then there’s travel.  Former presidents are allowed $1 million annually for “security and travel related expenses) and former first ladies have a 500k allowance for the same.

In 2013, Obama signed a law restoring lifetime Secret Service protection to all former presidents and spouses.  (He’s a great planner like that.)

It’s estimated that the cost of Secret Secret Service protection is in the tens of millions per year per president.   Which is why I liked what Rep. Howard Coble said about this issue back in 2012, when there was a congressional battle to limit Secret Service protection to 10 years post presidency.

“I think we have seen that being a former president can be a pretty lucrative career. I feel that after 10 years, if these former presidents feel the need for additional security, they should pay for it themselves.”

Well, now THAT’S a novel idea, isn’t it?

You can get more details about what you’re spending on former presidents right here.