Joel Hefley: “I respect our former Presidents, and I think they have a unique role to play; and I want them to play that role, and I…”

“I respect our former Presidents, and I think they have a unique role to play; and I want them to play that role, and I want us to provide for them so that they can play that role. But do we really need half a million dollars to support them playing that role each year? Ford, Carter, Reagan, about a half a million dollars, a little more, a little less, about a half a million dollars. By the way, President Carter, who I have great respect for as a former President, a tremendous former President, I think, he asked for no increase whatsoever this year. President Bush, former President Bush, he is moving up towards three-quarters of a million dollars, and, of course, President Clinton is $1.1, a little over $1.1 million. Do we really need, for instance, in Clinton's case, to spend $436,000 for rent? Do we really need that? Now, he chose New York City. He could have chosen Arkansas, where he is from; but he chose New York City. Do we really need to spend half a million dollars on his rent? Do we need to spend $174,000 for the rent of President Bush in Houston? Mr. Chairman, I question these things. I think this symbolically does send a message that we are trying to get a grip on spending up here.”