Obama freezes salaries of some White House aides

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama announced on his first day in office Wednesday that he is freezing the pay of the about a hundred White House employees who make over $100,000 a year.

The freeze would hold salaries at their current levels. It is part of a presidential memorandum being issued Wednesday when Obama attends a swearing-in for staff at the White House.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090121/ap_on_...a_executive_pay

[Yoink 7]

Are aides unionized?

[Peikko 1,575]

I'll be impressed when he either freezes or reduces his own salary - it's not like he needs it. Not that a president should not be paid, but a gesture would be bold and defining maybe...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I'll be impressed when he either freezes or reduces his own salary - it's not like he needs it. Not that a president should not be paid, but a gesture would be bold and defining maybe...

I think Presidente Vicente Fox didn't "charge" his salary at all. I thought it was pretty inconsequential and a vacuous move.

[NickD 203]

"

Release Date: December 2, 2008

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

Contact: 202-282-8010

Today is Jock Scharfen’s last day as Acting Director for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Jock has demonstrated remarkable dedication to this department during his tenure as Acting Director and as Deputy Director, and has helped guide the agency’s transformation into a 21st century service-driven organization.

Jock has made lasting contributions to homeland security, including processing a record number of naturalization petitions, effectively eliminating the FBI name check backlog, and welcoming thousands of Iraqi refugees that supported the U.S. overseas.

I am grateful for Jock’s service to our nation during his tenure at the department as well as his distinguished 25-year career as a U.S. Marine. On behalf of the department, I thank him for his many contributions to improving the services we provide legal immigrants and in naturalizing thousands of new U.S. citizens."

Who's replacing Jock? Think another acting director took his place, but Obama is to appoint a new one.

[almaty 19]

Party at Jock's house tonight..bring your own immigrant

Edited January 21, 2009 by almaty

[Yoink 7]

Party at Jock's house tonight..bring an immigrant

Jock... a strapping young man

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

I'll be impressed when he either freezes or reduces his own salary - it's not like he needs it. Not that a president should not be paid, but a gesture would be bold and defining maybe...

agreed

[Nagishkaw 510]

Party at Jock's house tonight..bring an immigrant

Jock... a strapping young man

Good one.

[Waldo 0]

I'll be impressed when he either freezes or reduces his own salary - it's not like he needs it. Not that a president should not be paid, but a gesture would be bold and defining maybe...

Yeah I want to see both retired Bushes shopping at walmart!

[Peikko 1,575]

In the current economic climate a gesture such as freezing one's wages from the figurehead might go a long way. I am not suggesting that there should be a precedent made for not paying presidents or anything of that nature, just some recognition from the man in office that not only aides, but leaders need to play their part. It's nothing more than symbolism, but what about the symbolism from the car manufacturers and their private jets? The American public seems to like symbolism.

[NickD 203]

In the current economic climate a gesture such as freezing one's wages from the figurehead might go a long way. I am not suggesting that there should be a precedent made for not paying presidents or anything of that nature, just some recognition from the man in office that not only aides, but leaders need to play their part. It's nothing more than symbolism, but what about the symbolism from the car manufacturers and their private jets? The American public seems to like symbolism.

It's not what they get over the table that bothers me, it's what they get under the table.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Party at Jock's house tonight..bring your own immigrant

[Peikko 1,575]

Ah, but Obama is transparent and will not be porking the barrel any time soon

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'll be impressed when he either freezes or reduces his own salary - it's not like he needs it. Not that a president should not be paid, but a gesture would be bold and defining maybe...

Given that the presidency is something one has to have a certain ambition for - I think they ought to do it for free. As you say - he certainly doesn't need the money, and certainly not if he's sincere in his idealism.