The Talker: Inauguration to cost taxpayers estimated $50M
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CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
President Obama's second inauguration in Washington, D.C. will be full of big pomp and circumstance and a big price tag.
Most estimates put the cost of the celebration—the security, the balls, Beyonce--at well over $100 million.
So the question many are asking is: Do we need to spend that money on a president's second inauguration?
He's already been president for four years and the country is still struggling through a pretty awful economy. Also, the big ceremony you'll watch Monday morning isn't even the official swearing in, which actually happens Sunday in a private ceremony at the White House.
So is it worth it?
It's a big question, but let's be clear--we're not singling out the president. The price tag for President Bush's second inauguration is estimated around $115 million. For President Obama's historic first inauguration, it was well over $150 million. That was a truly historic event, with almost 2 million people crammed into the National Mall to be a part of it.
The president has cut the hoopla down somewhat this second time around. The inaugural events will run three days instead of four. Instead of the ten official balls four years ago, there will be two. This year, there won't be any U2 concerts.
Like all recent inaugurations, a big chunk of the cost is being covered by private donations. But security? That's taxpayer money costing somewhere around $50 million dollars.
When a president--any president--is re-elected, should we just forego the big show, and save taxpayers' money?
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