Bush Seeks to Use $1M in Transition Funds

[Khephra]

March 2, 2004, 3:59 AM EST


WASHINGTON -- President Bush is making an unprecedented request to use up to $1 million budgeted for a possible presidential transition to train top officials who would join his administration if he should win a second term.

The proposal, which will require Congress' approval, is the first time a president has sought to use public transition funds to prepare officials to enter a re-elected administration, White House officials and others say. Critics say the money should come from existing agency budgets, especially as Bush is proposing to curb spending for many programs because of soaring federal deficits.

The White House is defending the request as a way to cope with the spate of departures that usually marks an incumbent's second term. Officials say the money would be used for briefing materials and other training expenses for which agencies have not budgeted.

"We're trying to use a modest amount of resources to make sure they are trained and prepared," said White House budget office spokesman Chad Kolton. He said new officials "need to be walked through what the parameters are, where things stand with ongoing projects."

more.................

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-transition,0,3671706.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Florida_Geek]

1. So when the Dems win in 2004, there will be less money

for transition.

OR

Touchscreens make Bush's second term a given


Mmmmmmm

[Judi Lynn]

2. A real slap in the face to taxpayers. Unforgiveable.

From the article:

Democrats and experts on presidential transitions say the funds should not be used when a sitting president is re-elected.

"It isn't really forming a government" like newly elected presidents must do, said Charles O. Jones, a University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist who has studied presidential transitions. "There are all kinds of existing apparatus in the White House, in departments and agencies, for orientation sessions."
(snip)

[NNN0LHI]

3. They will be transition/campaign workers. All in training of course though

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. How arrogant!

Bush must think he'll win the election or he knows he will steal it.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. This has two symbolic purposes....

...and everything this administraton does is symbolic.

1.) The 'inevitability' strategy beloved of Rove -- Bush is gonna win anyhow, so why bother waiting for the actual results. We saw this in 2000 in the campaign -- Bush 'contesting' California, etc, and in the recount.

2.) The official Bush campaign theme is more or less 'Don't change horses in midstream'. Here the expense of such a change, and the potential danger of such a change, are both trotted out for the delectation of the press.

[PATRICK]

6. here is a counter proposal

Use funds from job retraining to prepare the WH occupants for new jobs in the outside world.

[Nevernose]

7. WHAT funds for job retraining?

:evilgrin:

[UpInArms]

8. UpInArms to *Co

Bite Me Buckco -

you will not be needing to train anyone for the BFEE "second term" - you are so out of there!

We didn't "elect" you for one term - what the f*** makes you think that you can stay for another four years?

Pack your bags buddy and don't take the silver and china on the way out!

[frylock]

9. the fix is in..

I'm calling my shot - 2 March, 2004 @ 15:26 GMT.