Obama Declares War On Mousepads And Coffee Mugs In Bid To Trim Government’s Excessive Spending On Swag

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obama1Barack Obama is taking a scythe to souvenirs.

The President has begun a war against mousepads, coffee mugs and other commemorative items in a bid to curb unnecessary government spending and tackle America’s $14trillion deficit.

This week he signed an executive order directing government agencies to cut back on ‘extraneous promotional items’, which the White House says cost taxpayers billions of dollars a year.

The action means the purchase of pens, cell phones and laptops will all come under investigation, with departments being urged to put together plans on how to reduce wasteful spending and increase efficiency.

Mr Obama’s goal is for the executive branch to reduce expenditures by 20 per cent in areas covered by the executive order. The administrative step does not require action by Congress.

‘At a time when families have had to cut back we thought that it was entirely appropriate for our governments and our agencies to try to root out waste, large and small, in a systematic way,’ Mr Obama said when signing the order which directs federal agencies to ‘limit the purchase of promotional items’ such as plaques, clothing, and commemorative gifts.

He said agencies must root out waste large and small, adding that the weak economy makes those efforts even more important and requires tough choices.

From logo-emblazoned baseball caps and T-shirts to branded key rings and backpacks, almost every agency has storerooms full of ‘swag’ ready to be handed out to staff and visitors.

In his order, Mr Obama said the stocking of such gifts must be limited, ‘in particular where they are not cost-effective’.

Travel decisions, IT purchasing and printing must also be reassessed.

From the education and health departments to the American Battle Monuments Commission and the CIA, all parts of the government must submit a plan with specific cost reductions within 45 days.

If agencies heed the call, the administration estimates $4billion worth of savings can be made. But this equates to just 0.1 per cent of the federal budget.

Already the Department of Energy has said it can save $16m by cutting back on travel, while Nasa plans to cut $17m by sending fewer workers to meetings and asking employees to share rental cars when they do go, the Financial Times reported.

Some branded items are, however, excluded from the cuts, such as the jackets FBI agents wear on a raid – that is work-related, the administration says.

{Daily Mail/Matzav.com Newscenter}


9 COMMENTS

  1. #2 and #3 are THINKING. I agree with them.
    I just think sometimes that his ineffectivism is a cover up for his worse intentions. But we won’t know that now, we will know in due time for that. Meanwhile, he is just foolish, useless and ineffective.

  2. 1,000’S OF EMPLOYERS IN WASHINGTON THEY WINE AND DINE IN ALL THE STEAKHOUSES CALLED PETTY CASH BILL TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. A HERD OF COWS NEEDED TO SUPPLY THE DAILY FOOD KEEPING THE RESTAURANTS REVOLVING DOORS TURNING NON STOP.I CAN’T BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE UNLIMITED BUSINESS TRAVEL EXPENSES THE ALL HAVE. THEIR BUSINESS EXPENSE BUDGET IS BIGGER THEN THEIR PAYCHECK.

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