Earnings lid for Obama, too

Sat., Feb. 14, 2009

The Spokesman-Review

The president’s latest proposal to cap executive salaries at $500,000 if their companies accept taxpayer funds is rather interesting. Let’s apply that proposal to him.

We currently pay his salary of $400,000, and he lives rent-free in taxpayer housing (the White House). In four years, he will become a private citizen and write his memoir. He probably will receive about $10 million for that book.

Since he lived rent-free at taxpayer expense and taxpayers paid his salary while obtaining the experience to write his book, I believe the compensation limit should apply to him. Indeed, I believe he should agree not to earn more than $500,000 a year once he leaves the White House because he received taxpayer funds.

Geoff Swindler

Spokane

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