Obama's December vacation likely to be delayed

If President Barack Obama sends his family on ahead to Hawaii while he stays in Washington to wrap up business with Congress, the taxpayers will be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars, Keith Koffler reports on his White House Dossier blog.


Obama, who has been criticized sharply for scheduling a 17-day vacation during the country’s current economic mess, reportedly has said he may delay departure until Congress extends the payroll tax holiday. If that occurs, Michelle and Obama’s two daughters may go on ahead without him.


“But sending his family ahead of him could easily cost taxpayers an added $100,000, and possibly much more,” Koffler wrote on his blog.


“Last year, when Obama was delayed by Congress, Michelle left early for Hawaii, and the cost of her separate flight alone totaled about $63,000. This did not include related security and staff costs or the money for a cargo plane that may trail the first lady’s jet on such a trip.”




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President Barack Obama will delay his Hawaii vacation if needed as Congress dukes it out over extending the payroll tax holiday, the top Senate Democrat said Wednesday.


That conversation came during a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Senate Democratic leaders and Obama in the Oval Office earlier Wednesday.


"I'll paraphrase it, but I'm pretty close," Reid said. "He said, 'Michelle and the girls are going to have a great time in Hawaii. They don't need me there.'"


White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett seemed to confirm Reid's comments in an interview not long after.


"He is intending to stay right here in Washington," Jarrett said on MSNBC. "He intends to hold Congress accountable. Leader Reid made the same commitment."


Of course, congressional leaders often threaten Christmas vacation this time of year, and presidents often vow to stay behind and finish work when there's pending business on Capitol Hill. But somehow, Congress always tends to get out of town when the holidays approach.


Republicans, including GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, had already pounced on Obama's vacation in Hawaii, which is scheduled to begin Dec. 17.


Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) added that Obama would push the House to come back into session if they adjourned without the payroll tax cut extension.


"What the president made clear was … that the House would leave at its peril, its political peril, and they will face the embarrassment of trying to explain why they're taking the holiday off while working families across America are going to see their taxes increase," Durbin told reporters afterward.


The top Senate Democrats kept up the political gamesmanship over keeping the expiring payroll tax holiday, insisting that Congress stay in Washington until they agree to extend the temporary 2 percent tax cut that is scheduled to end after this year.


"Don't go home Speaker [John] Boehner, because we're going to be here," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "And you'll be embarrassed before the American people if you do."


"We are not going to go home until we finish this," Reid said. "Is it going to be embarrassing to Republicans? Humiliate them? Probably, as it should be."