Lead by example on fiscal responsibility by reducing presidential inauguration costs

In these times of the greatest financial difficulty and hardship since the Great Depression we urge the White House to scale back the presidential inauguration events to the $1.24 million set aside for the swearing-in ceremony. ABC News reports (abcn.ws/UDSLO8) that the cost of the upcoming presidential inauguration will exceed $170 million, stressing the budgets of states like VA, MD and the District of Colombia, causing them to ask the federal government for $75 million to pay for police, fire and medical services. The inaugural committee is spending $12 million more than Pres. Clinton's inauguration in 1993 and roughly $3 million more than Pres. Bush's committee in 2005. All other money donated to the event should go towards ending world hunger and aid victims of hurricane Sandy.