Inauguration festivities may cost up to $150 million

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 18, 2009

WASHINGTON

The cost of President-elect Obama's inauguration gala is expected to break records, with some estimates as high as $150 million. Despite the bleak economy, however, Democrats who called on President Bush to be frugal four years ago are issuing no such demands now that an inaugural weekend of rock concerts and star-studded parties has begun.

Obama's inaugural committee has raised more than $41 million to cover activities ranging from a Philadelphia-to-Washington train ride to a megastar concert with Beyonce, U2 and Bruce Springsteen to 10 official inaugural balls. The massive costs of security and transportation will be absorbed by U.S. taxpayers.

In 2005, Reps. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., and Jim McDermott, D-Wash., asked Bush to show a little less pomp and be a little more circumspect at his party.

"President Roosevelt held his 1945 inaugural at the White House, making a short speech and serving guests cold chicken salad and plain pound cake," the two congressmen wrote in a letter. "During World War I, President Wilson did not have any parties at his 1917 inaugural, saying that such festivities would be undignified."

The thinking behind the request to Bush was that with the nation at war, excessive celebration was inappropriate. Four years later, the nation is still at war. Unemployment has risen sharply. And Obama pressed Congress for the second half of a $700 billion bailout package to rescue a faltering banking industry.

Obama's inauguration committee says it is mindful of the times and is not worried that people will see the four days of festivities as excessive.

"That is probably not the way the country is going to be looking at it," said Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for the committee. "It is not a celebration of an election. It is a celebration of our common values."