U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, says the Obama administration should reconsider its decision to discontinue tours of the White House. “Following a campaignstyle tour around the country using firemen, nurses and teachers as political props, the President is now using constituents to make a political point and denying them access to the Washington landmark,” Reed said in a press release.
He said his office had scheduled tours for about 130 of his constituents in the coming weeks, including three school groups.
“We will continue to work to get these tours reinstated and in the meantime, are inviting constituents to tour the United States Capitol Building instead. Our office is working to make adjustments with those groups who already have White House tours planned to make sure they are taken care of and able to visit other landmarks in Washington,” Reed said.
The Obama administration said the decision to stop White House tours was one of several hard choices that had to be made in the wake of the sequester budget cuts.
“It is extremely unfortunate we have a situation like the sequester that compels these types of trade-offs,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said Thursday.
“At a time when all Americans are being asked to do more with less, the same should be asked of the White House,” Reed said.
U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, says the Obama administration should reconsider its decision to discontinue tours of the White House. “Following a campaignstyle tour around the country using firemen, nurses and teachers as political props, the President is now using constituents to make a political point and denying them access to the Washington landmark,” Reed said in a press release.
He said his office had scheduled tours for about 130 of his constituents in the coming weeks, including three school groups.
“We will continue to work to get these tours reinstated and in the meantime, are inviting constituents to tour the United States Capitol Building instead. Our office is working to make adjustments with those groups who already have White House tours planned to make sure they are taken care of and able to visit other landmarks in Washington,” Reed said.
The Obama administration said the decision to stop White House tours was one of several hard choices that had to be made in the wake of the sequester budget cuts.
“It is extremely unfortunate we have a situation like the sequester that compels these types of trade-offs,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said Thursday.
“At a time when all Americans are being asked to do more with less, the same should be asked of the White House,” Reed said.
