US govt spent nearly $3.7mn on former presidents in 2012: Report

 

The US government spent nearly 3.7 million dollars on former presidents in 2012, according to an analysis.

The analysis released by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, the expenses covered pension, compensation and benefits for office staff, and the government also picks up the tab for other costs like travel, office space and postage.

The 3.7 million dollars taxpayers shelled out in 2012 is about 200,000 dollars less than in 2011, and the sum in 2010 was even higher.

It's a drop in the bucket compared with the trillions the government spends each year, Fox News reports.

According to the report, the most recent ex-president to leave the White House, Bush was granted almost 400,000 dollars for 8,000 square feet of office space in Dallas, plus 85,000 dollars in telephone costs. Another 60,000 dollars went to travel costs.

President Bill Clinton came in second at just under 1 million dollars, followed by George HW Bush at nearly 850,000 dollars.

Widows of former presidents are entitled to a pension of 20,000 dollars, but Nancy Reagan, the wife of former President Ronald Reagan, waived her pension last year.

The former first lady did accept 14,000 dollars in postage.

According to the report, the cost totals for ex-president don't include what the Secret Service spends protecting them, their spouses and children.

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