Leading By Example

As he gets on a plane to Bali Obama boldly cuts travel for Federal workers

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is coming out against swag.

That’s swag, as in the coffee mugs, pens, T-shirts and other public relations articles that federal government agencies purchase with taxpayer money to promote their work.

The swag ban is part of an executive order the president will sign on Wednesday to cut waste and make government more efficient. Obama has been using his executive powers on modest proposals to promote job creation, assist homeowners and consumers, or alleviate spending.

Besides putting an end to the promotional gear, the new order directs agencies to reduce travel spending, cut back on cellphones and laptops issued to employees, cut down the size of the executive vehicle fleet and post documents online instead of printing them — measures that individually would hardly merit a White House news release.

This of course is also coming from the guy whose books just “happened” to be purchased by the State Department.

categories Morality, Nanny State, People, Politics | | datetime November 9, 2011 10:06 am

6 Responses to “Leading By Example”

  1. JeffS says:
    November 9, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Clearly, the definition of “swag” changes the closer one gets to the White House.

  2. aelfheld says:
    November 9, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    I don’t want government to be efficient. What I want is for government to cost less. Lots less. Lots and lots less.

  3. Dr Alice says:
    November 9, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    But his books aren’t swag! They’re… um… doorstops.

  4. JeffS says:
    November 9, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    I prefer to use them as an emergency toilet paper supply, Doc. Or fire starter.

  5. Michael Lonie says:
    November 12, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    JeffS,
    Arent’ the pages a bit coarse for toilet paper?

  6. JeffS says:
    November 12, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    That’s why I listed fire starter as an alternate.

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