Quote:
Originally Posted by scaeagles
Four years ago when the economy was fine, there was expressed disgust at some 40 million being spent on the inauguration activities. This time around, with a horrid economy, why is 100 million considered OK?
|
Does not entirely answer your question, but here's a portion of an article. For the record I donated to help fund the party (about a couple of light bulbs worth)
Quote:
The good news for taxpayers: Inaugural celebrations are paid for by the inaugural committee — and Obama has, once again, been a very successful fundraiser — at least $35 million by recent counts. Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, told the New York Daily News:
"We're always very budget conscious. But we're sending a message to the entire world about our peaceful transition of power, and you don't want it to look like a schlock affair. It needs to be appropriate to the magnitude of events that it is."
|
full
article here