WH Appointees Have Portraits at Taxpayer Eepense

[Odessa78]

WH Appointees Have Portraits Painted at Taxpayer Expense


While members of Congress continue to wrangle over whether the nation can avoid the “fiscal cliff,” taxpayer funds are still being spent on what many might consider to be the less important details, like the official portraits of White House appointees.

According to the Washington Times, an oil portrait of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson cost the agency nearly $40,000, while a painting of Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley will cost $41,200. Similarly, a three-by-four foot portrait of Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack will be completed for a fee of $22,500, and a portrait of the Secretary of the Interior will have a price tag of $24,900.

The painting of portraits of high-level government officials has been a tradition of both Democrat and Republican administrations for years. Since portraits are typically unveiled after the official has left office, the start of the painting process is also sometimes a signal that an office is about to become vacant.

Since last year, the government has paid out at least $180,000 for official portraits. Anne Fader, president of Portrait Consultants in Washington, an organization that represents portrait artists, said that while she was not at liberty to discuss specific government commissions, some government agencies begin the search for an artist early since paintings can take from eight to fourteen months to complete.

“These are done for future generations to see how we live now, and it’s really a tribute as well as part of a person’s legacy,” Fader said. “It’s a tremendous privilege to paint a portrait of somebody as accomplished as these people.”






White House Appointees Have Portraits Painted at Taxpayer Expense

[Rommey]

Outside of the official portraits for the President and VP, why are portraits of any other members of any administration done? I mean while cabinet level positions are noteworthy at the time of their service, who is really going to remember (or care) about some political appointee years from now. I mea there's only been 44 presidents in 236 years, and most everyone can name or has heard of all of them. Who can name a Secretary of [fill in the blank] from years ago (unless they happened to be particularly noteworthy)? And they need a portrait???

[mamatutu]

Egos as big as those portrait pricetags. Sounds like a good place to have a budget cut. Ridiculous. JMO

[RPMDAD]

A portrait picture would work just as well for prosperity's sake and a tad cheaper, not that we need them at all.

[DipStick]

There's an app for that

[BigBlue]

Originally Posted by mamatutu

Egos as big as those portrait pricetags. Sounds like a good place to have a budget cut. Ridiculous. JMO

This has been done for all the appointees not just democrats but republican also.


And yes it should be stop .

[BigBlue]

Originally Posted by RPMDAD

A portrait picture would work just as well for prosperity's sake and a tad cheaper, not that we need them at all.

Hell use a polaroid camera,huh ,never mind.

[PsyOps (Premo)]

Originally Posted by BigBlue

This has been done for all the appointees not just democrats but republican also.


And yes it should be stop .

Link?

Well then... two wrongs make it right.

[FreedomFan]

Cheeses H. Kriest people will get riled up over some really stupid sheet.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by PsyOps

Link?

White House Appointees Have Portraits Painted at Taxpayer Expense

The painting of portraits of high-level government officials has been a tradition of both Democrat and Republican administrations for years. Since portraits are typically unveiled after the official has left office, the start of the painting process is also sometimes a signal that an office is about to become vacant.