10°c Overcast
15°c Mainly sunny
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Republicans, in dig at White House, say Capitol tours unaffected by budget cuts
WASHINGTON - House Republicans put out a video Tuesday to remind visitors that, while they may be locked out of the Obama White House because of budget cuts, the doors to the Capitol are still open for tours.
The un-narrated 90-second video posted on YouTube is the latest effort by Republicans to needle the White House for stopping all public tours of that building because of the government-wide automatic spending cuts that went into effect at the beginning of the month.
The new video, headlined "Welcome to the United States Capitol," shows the Rotunda, Statuary Hall and other sites along the tour route through the Capitol, and ends with the line "this is your House. Tour it."
"It is unfortunate President (Barack) Obama chose to eliminate public tours of the White House" as a result of the budget cuts, said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., chair of the House Republican Conference. "But we are proud to keep the doors to the beautiful, historic U.S. Capitol open for all."
Last week House Speaker John Boehner led off a press conference stressing that congressional leaders, through good planning, had managed to avoid furloughs among Capitol workers and ensure that tours would continue. "I think it's disappointing that the Obama administration didn't follow our lead and find savings in other parts of their budget. I think it's silly that they've insisted on locking down the White House, which the American people actually own."
Congress has responded to the automatic budget cuts by closing some doors to House and Senate office buildings and the Capitol and blocking off some side streets around the Capitol.
The White House said the tours were being stopped so uniformed officers normally assigned to the tours could be reassigned to other security posts, saying that would reduce overtime costs and avoid potential furloughs.
The video can be seen at http://bit.ly/ZFDeeO
More Travel
- Back to Top
- Return to Travel
More Travel
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Military Bowl moving from RFK in DC to Navy Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis
05/20/2013 7:29 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Travel
- Eruption of Alaska volcano prompts cancellations of some area commuter, cargo flights
- Saudi man jailed after pressure cooker found in bags at Detroit Metro Airport seeks bond
- Brady Bunch kids to mark 40th anniversary popular episode shot at Kings Island
- Man breaks world record by riding Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier for more than 48 hours
- Drug offences, kidnap coverage concerning
- Breakaway is a beauty
- Galveston's rising tide
- The views are big in little Liechtenstein
- Chefs serve fine food, wine at Fenway Park to raise money for Boston Marathon bombing victims
- Dive into your love affair with Belize
- Brady Bunch kids to mark 40th anniversary popular episode shot at Kings Island
- Eruption of Alaska volcano prompts cancellations of some area commuter, cargo flights
- Saudi man jailed after pressure cooker found in bags at Detroit Metro Airport seeks bond
- Nephew says arrest of Saudi uncle with pressure cooker at Detroit airport was misunderstanding
- Chefs serve fine food, wine at Fenway Park to raise money for Boston Marathon bombing victims
- Man breaks world record by riding Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier for more than 48 hours
- Drug offences, kidnap coverage concerning
- 5 free things in South Dakota's Black Hills, from historic towns to famous monuments
- Breakaway is a beauty
- 200 re-enactors present pageant Memorial weekend at Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City
- Nephew says arrest of Saudi uncle with pressure cooker at Detroit airport was misunderstanding
- Brady Bunch kids to mark 40th anniversary popular episode shot at Kings Island
- Eruption of Alaska volcano prompts cancellations of some area commuter, cargo flights
- Saudi man jailed after pressure cooker found in bags at Detroit Metro Airport seeks bond
- Trailer-park temptations
- Vacation in Iceland? Why not?
- ASK JOURNEYS: Don't mess with Air Canada's check-in times
- Minnesota Bound
- Chefs serve fine food, wine at Fenway Park to raise money for Boston Marathon bombing victims
- Man breaks world record by riding Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier for more than 48 hours
- The true Cuba
- Dive into your love affair with Belize
- Brady Bunch kids to mark 40th anniversary popular episode shot at Kings Island
- The true Cuba
- Dive into your love affair with Belize
- Brady Bunch kids to mark 40th anniversary popular episode shot at Kings Island
- ASK JOURNEYS: Don't mess with Air Canada's check-in times
- A big helping of Bellingham
- Vacation in Iceland? Why not?
- Derry at peace with the past
- Dive into your love affair with Belize
- Air Canada's new check-in deadline: 45 minutes before domestic departures
- Buenos Aires' endless nights
- Japan's Mount Fuji poised to be recognized as World Heritage site
- Small batches, big flavour
- NEEPAWA: Lily Capital of the World; home of literary legend
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.