Republican Rep. Louis Gohmert brought up an amendment to the budget bill on Tuesday that would outright deny President Obama from using tax dollars to go on golf outings until he reopens the White House to tourists.
His amendment follows a White House move to halt tours because of sequestration — an action described by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as ridiculous.
“Closing the White House [to tours] is absurd. It’s a joke, “Mr. Guiliani said on Fox News on Wednesday.
Mr. Gohmert is taking that viewpoint and putting it to legislative action.
White House Dossier and The Hill report his amendment states: “None of the funds made available by a division of this act may be used to transport the president to or from a golf course until public tours of the White House resume.”
Mr. Gohmert also cited one senator’s estimates that Mr. Obama’s recent three-day golf trip to Florida was about the cost of furloughing 341 federal workers.
“Perhaps, quitting furloughing all these federal employees,” he said, in White House Dossier’s report, “we’ll be able to get … [Americans] their tour of the White House and all it will cost is one or two golf trips less.”
The amendment is largely ceremonially. White House Dossier says it probably won’t see any legislative movement.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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