If the federal debt is $37 trillion, it should be obvious that taxpayers can’t subsidize the wealthy. Yet that is exactly what happens each year under an outdated law providing former presidents with benefits and perks costing taxpayers more than $5 million a year.
The bucks started with Harry Truman. After leaving the White House, he complained about the costs imposed on him for responding to mail and requests for speeches. To “maintain the dignity” of the office of the president, Congress decided that taxpayers should foot the bill for him.
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