Former President Jimmy Carter has deservedly earned a wide array of opprobriums over the years: Worst President in history. Anti-Semitic. Peanut-farming phony. Anti-American. And now you can add one more: Government teat-suckling cheapskate.
The Washington Times has the specifics:
The tennis court at former President Jimmy Carter‘s private home is swept twice a day, his pool is cleaned daily and his grass cut, his flower beds weeded and his windows washed on a regular basis — all at taxpayers’ expense.
Under an arrangement with the National Park Service, taxpayers are responsible for the exterior of Mr. Carter‘s home in Plains, Ga. — to the tune of $67,841 last year alone. In exchange, the government obtains the right to add the home to the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site when he and his wife pass away.
Other presidents have had similar life estate agreements calling for their properties to be turned over after their deaths, but to have taxpayers footing the bill for upkeep and maintenance of the Carters’ property appears to be unique, and it’s drawing fire at a time of tight federal budgets.
They sweep his tennis court twice a day. They clean his pool once a day. Maybe while they’re at it they could burnish his reputation every once in a while. Because no matter how much work they do on the guy’s house, it’s really his legacy that needs cleaning up.
Source: Washington Times
