It’s Okay: It’s Not Her Money. Michelle to Stay in Hawaii while Barack Returns to DC for Fiscal Cliff Theater

I know – all presidents and their wives take vacations. It seemed, though, that all the Republicans who “vacationed” during Christmas went to their own homes or ranches. But then, why would Obama want to go to Chicago? The weather isn’t very nice there in winter.

Yes, I know, he was born in Hawaii, but he doesn’t own a home there – yet.

President Obama will return to Washington from Hawaii Thursday while First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters plan to continue their vacation, adding at least $100,000 and probably more than $200,000 to taxpayer costs for the excursion.

Instead of accompanying her husband home on Air Force One, Mrs. Obama will fly on her own Air Force jet at a later date and require security and staff to remain in place in Hawaii for the length of her stay, which reportedly could extend until January 6.

The White House does not reveal the price tag for the Obamas’ vacations. But an estimate can be made given several known and likely expenses.

Assuming Mrs. Obama uses the type of plane she has flown before to Hawaii, the Air Force C-40B Special Mission Aircraft, the cost of a flight from Honolulu to Washington would be about $63,000. If the C-40B must be flown out to Hawaii to retrieve Mrs. Obama, as would seem likely, the first lady’s travel costs could amount to about $126,000, assuming the jet is dispatched from Washington.

And the cost would be much higher still if a supply-carrying cargo jet comes home along with Michelle in addition to the cargo jet that accompanies Air Force One – particularly if that jet too must be flown out to Hawaii just for Mrs. Obama.

And holy cow – they need a “supply-carrying cargo jet” to go on vacation? I get one checked bag, and a carry on.

via Michelle to Remain in Hawaii, Costing Taxpayers Over $100K | The Blog on Obama: White House Dossier.