Why did Bush DOUBLE his salary?

Question

Clinton earned $200,000 a year as POTUS. When "G" got into office, he DOUBLED his salary to $400,000 a year. I know I'm a little late on this, but why didn't anybody ever queston this?

Answer 1

Honey, Clinton signed that bill into law. And for a good reason too.

If you would like to educate yourself please read the provided links.

God Bless.

Answer 2

Typical left view. Blame President Bush for something his predicessor did.

The Treasury bill contained language doubling the current $200,000 presidential salary when Clinton's successor takes office in 2001. (1)

Here is a history of previous presidential salaries:
Presidential pay raise history (2)
September 24, 1789 $ 25,000 salary
March 3, 1873 $ 50,000 salary
March 4, 1909 $ 75,000 salary
January 19, 1949 $100,000 salary
$ 50,000 expense account
January 20, 1969 $200,000 salary
$ 50,000 expense account


WASHINGTON (May 24) -- A House panel looking into the first presidential pay raise in 30 years was urged by a group of former presidential advisers Monday to at least double the chief executive's annual salary to $400,000 or more.

House legislation to double the current presidential salary of $200,000 would first apply to President Bill Clinton's successor in January 2001. The provision has been included in a $13.7 billion spending bill for the Treasury, White House and other agencies approved by a House Appropriations subcommittee. (2)

Answer 3

The president does not set his salary. Congress sets the salary you twit. Why make something arbitrary a political issue?

Traditionally, the president is the highest-paid government employee. He currently earns $400,000 per year, along with a $50,000 expense account, a $100,000 nontaxable travel account, and $19,000 for entertainment.[16] The president's salary and total expense account serve as an unofficial cap for all other federal officials' salaries, such as that of the Chief Justice. The most recent raise in salary was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 and came into force in 2001; prior to the change, the president earned $200,000, plus expense accounts. This was needed because other officials who received annual cost-of-living increases had salaries approaching that of the president, and in order to raise their salaries further, his needed to be raised as well. Monetary compensation for the president is minuscule in comparison to the CEOs of most Fortune 500 companies and comparable to that of certain kinds of professionals, such as attorneys and physicians in some parts of the United States. Overall the vast majority of U.S. presidents were very affluent upon entering office and thus were not dependent on the salary.

Answer 4

I would broaden the scope of your question: since the government, at least in theory, works for the people it represents, shouldn't the latter be the ones to determine whether or not they get a raise, and, if so, how much of one? Sample Ballot Question: [Enter elected official's name] has requested a raise. Do you approve? Check "Yes" or "No", and write in the amount if you checked the former... That would be the day...

Answer 5

Bush didn't do that Congress passed it and Clinton signed it. Clinton was president at the time the bill passed.

Answer 6

Clinton actually signed the legislation to raise the salary.

http://www.forbes.com/2002/06/25/0625clinton.html

Answer 7

He didn't increase anything. If I recall the salary of the President was increased by Congress while Clinton was in office but didn't take effect until after the next election.

Answer 8

Actually the increase was passed during the Clinton administration, but he was so disliked by the Republicans that it was deemed to take effect after he left office.

Answer 9

Who decides the salary of the POTUS? Does it change with inflation? What did Bush I get paid?

There are too many factors that I (and I'm guessing you) don't really know much about. So before we go on a Bush Bashing Spree, let's research some facts...

Answer 10

1st of all, presidents are underpaid... second, Clinton raised the Presidential salary, not Bush