White House warns Easter Egg Roll could be canceled
Washington (CNN) – Ticket holders for the upcoming White House Easter Egg Roll are being warned the annual event could be canceled if lawmakers can't agree on a measure funding the federal government.
As for now, the event will go on as planned – though warnings have gone out to members of Congress and ticketholders that a partial government shutdown would cause the egg roll to be scrapped.
In a memo to lawmakers, who receive tickets to the egg roll, the White House notes that "by using these tickets, guests are acknowledging that this event is subject to cancellation due to funding uncertainty surrounding the Executive Office of the President and other federal agencies."
The memo adds that if the event is canceled, it would not be rescheduled.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the egg roll was still on.
"Because we distributed tickets to the Easter Egg Roll far in advance of the actual event, we alerted all ticketholders that this event is subject to cancellation due to funding uncertainty, including the possibility of a government shutdown," Carney said.
"We have every expectation that the Easter Egg Roll will proceed as planned," he added later.
A partial government shutdown would occur if Congress fails to extend funding authorization by the March 27 deadline, something leaders from both parties have said they'd like to avoid.
A person familiar with the ticket confirmations said every attendee received the same cancellation warning on their ticket confirmation, including both members of Congress and those who won tickets through the lottery.
The Easter Egg Roll – an annual event featuring games, music and the egg roll - is celebrating its 135th anniversary this year. It's slated to take place April 1.
The White House announced earlier this month it was suspending public tours through September 30 as a consequence of the forced spending cuts-known as the "sequester."
The move quickly sparked controversy, with some Republicans arguing the Obama administration was using the canceled tours as a political ploy to draw up negative reaction from the American public over the cuts.
The U.S. Secret Service told CNN that the plan will help the agency save $74,000 per week – or $2 million over the next seven months, which is the scheduled length of the ongoing forced budget cuts. That total covers the cost of paying 37 uniformed officers $50 an hour for 40 hours a week to secure the tour's route through the East Wing.
But that's just a fraction of the $84 million the Secret Service needs to cut from its $1.6 billion budget, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The officers normally assigned to the tours will be reassigned to other duties at the White House.
iDid YOU vote in the last election ?
Did YOU not vote in the last election?
That's how things get influenced in our government.
Posting opinions makes YOU feel good.......voting makes THEM pay attention. YOUR choice.
Go ahead, cancel it. In return, Obama has to park Air Force One. No more golf outings where he is using Air Force One that has an operating cost of $180,000 PER HOUR!!!!!
There is now ample evidence that instead of doing what is right for America, Obama has given instructions to his agencies to make this as visible and painful as possible. We can't possibly cancel one AF1 trip to pay for all this (estimated operating cost $180,000/hour) – we have to cancel tours, egg rolls, and anything else instead. The Inspector Generals identified $67 billion in waste fraud and abuse, but instead of implementing those recommendations Obama decided to try and score political points, while continuing to waste taxpayer money. To call this a dereliction of duty is being charitable.
@WEASEL 2
Does this make the President look : (pick as many as your children select)
1. silly
2. stupid
3. arrogant
4. incompetent
5. a grinch
6. a lightweight politician in a job beyond his abilities
7..a true friend of the american people, trying to reduce fraud and waste in government
This poll is as scientific as most of the others that you see, tempered in great measure by the preformed opinions of the people paying for the poll results.
enjoy
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Is "All of the Above" an acceptable response?
"Good work as usual CNN. I was having trouble sleeping at night wondering what was going on with the Easter egg hunt this year. Please be sure to stay right on top of this breaking news story and keep us all updated on any important new developments"
I agree. Let us start with whether or not this story has any relevence. It was clearly stated in the article that the Easter Egg Hunt is still a go. What the RW fools are complaining about is anyone's guess. Just the mention the name "Obama" and they crawl out of the woodwork to voice their hate.
everyone wants the govt. to cut back. but then complain when the white house cuts things. ......have congress take a 20 percent cut to open the white house.
penguin
The easter egg hunt should be paid for by private donations.
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You cannot compensate the Secret Service through private donations. Period. I'll take the Point, Game, Set, and Match.
This just in - latest CNN poll shows 47% of the population approves, but 50% of the population disapproves of King Obama's inept handling of his job.
""Good work as usual CNN. I was having trouble sleeping at night wondering what was going on with the Easter egg hunt this year. "
Haha...yeah...both the GOP/Teatrolls AND CNN bit hard on this bait. Nom nom nom, CNN/Teatrolls?
Why are we paying for Pelosi and Biden to meet the Pope, while we're cutting everything here back in America? Why hasn't this president presented a balanced budget in his entire presidency? This is against the consitution – he is to account for the taxpayers' money – we are paying for the roof over his head – and he's denying access to its owners.
How does this statement from the story: "That total covers the cost of paying 37 uniformed officers $50 an hour for 40 hours a week to secure the tour's route through the East Wing." reconcile with this one: "The officers normally assigned to the tours will be reassigned to other duties at the White House."? If the officers are still working, won't they still get paid the same amount? Just how does this save any money? This makes it seem more like a political ploy than an actual attempt to save any money.
"Obama has given instructions to his agencies to make this as visible and painful as possible"
Yeah, those instructions are called "the Sequester," which requires across the board, indiscrimate cuts to every aspect of every targetted program, agency, department, etc. Sorry pal, but just becaue CNN is studiously ignoring the fact that these things you're throwing hissy fits about are actually baked right into the Sequester, doesn't mean you're actually correct when you pretend that Obama is, in fact, violating the Sequester by trying to exercise discretion over the cuts. He isn't...because he can't...becaue this is PRECISELY what the Sequester requires and PRECISELY the kind of fallout from across the board indiscriminate cutting.
Obama is so childish...... 135 years for this event and he let's them shut this down..... oh, you'll go down in history, Barack.... as the worst president ever..... I know 6 year olds more mature than your acting....
Just cancel the whole thing!!! The Easter Egg Hunt has turned into a photo op for Obama and Moochie. Most of us are aware that Obama is going to try and get as much mileage of this and other sequester related issues as he possibly can. This fool (Obama) is the biggest hypocrite/liar that has ever inhabited the White House.
Kids should watch out for the smell of sulfur!!!
Anonymous, in case you care to know and try be open minded, IAM NOT a Republican...
Cancel it....look for easter eggs at home!
Have Michelle cancel one shopping trip or Obama cancel one trip on Airforce One there would be plenty of money left for the Easter Egg hunt and then some what a joke you people are.
All of you people can do and make sure you keep the classes divided.
Easter egg hunt is canceled but egg roll will continue. Secret service was 2 cut their budget by 2% like all other agencies. Not obama plan. And the pain hasnt hit yet. Just wait till april 1st when furloughs hit. Unemployed hit $200 less a mo already. Gop cry they want a cut and do it w a hatchet instead of scalpule. Obama and dems had scalple out and gop slammed patient w hatchet. Let's hope they didnt cut off head. Gop runs around screaming sky is falling but they r the ones that make it fall then blame everyone else. Typical 6 yr old mentality.