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Commentaries

Commentary: Retiring Senators Seek Funding to Preserve Their Own Files

Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?

Commentary by Adam Andrzejewski originally published at RealClearPolicy.com

How does spending $10 million to preserve the files of retiring U.S. senators sound?

That’s how much the Senate Appropriations Committee is seeking “to ensure a full historical record of a senator’s service.”

It’s also interesting timing that Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is himself retiring next year after eight terms.

A $10 million retirement gift seems a tad bit pricey.

Leahy is the only Democrat among five other retiring senators: Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO); Richard Burr (R-NC); Rob Portman (R-OH); Richard Shelby (R-AL); and Patrick Toomey (R-PA). Shelby and Blunt sit on the Appropriations Committee along with Leahy.

Leahy recently announced his retirement but the National Archives already has a live link next to his name for the University of Vermont’s Howe Library, where the senator’s papers will be going.

Burr also has a home designated for his Senate papers, announcing four years before he was set to retire that Wake Forest University, his alma mater, would get his records.

Wake Forest announced then that it was creating a Richard Burr Center, in partnership with the library.

Shelby also announced earlier in November that his records would go to the University of Alabama, his alma mater, and recipient of many Shelby-backed Congressional earmarks during his Senate tenure.

It’s unclear whether the House Appropriations Committee will agree to the Senate bill or if the provision will pass the Senate and get signed into law.

But it’s clear that the senators who drafted the provision think the burden of packing up their offices for retirement deserves a $10 million retirement gift from taxpayers.

The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.

Deneen Borelli

Deneen Borelli is the author of Blacklash: How Obama and the Left are Driving Americans to the Government Plantation. Deneen is a contributor with Newsmax Broadcasting. She is a former Fox News contributor and has appeared regularly on “Hannity,” “Fox & Friends,” “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” and “America’s Newsroom.” She has also appeared on Fox Business Network programs “Making Money with Charles Payne,” “The Evening Edit with Liz MacDonald,” and “Cavuto: Coast to Coast.” Previously, Deneen appeared on MSNBC, CNN, the BBC and C-SPAN. In addition to television, Deneen co-hosted radio programs on the SiriusXM Patriot channel with her husband Tom. Recently, Deneen co-hosted the Reigniting Liberty podcast with Tom. Deneen is a frequent speaker at political events, including the FreedomWorks 9.12.2009 March on D.C. which drew a crowd estimated at over 800,000 people. Deneen is also an Ambassador with CloutHub.com, a social media platform that promotes free speech, and with the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) which advances policies that put Americans first. Deneen testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources in May 2011 and before the Ohio House Public Utilities Committee in December 2011. Previously, Deneen was a BlazeTV.com host, Outreach Director with FreedomWorks.org overseeing its Empower.org outreach program, a Project 21 Senior Fellow, and Manager of Media Relations with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Prior to joining CORE, Deneen worked at Philip Morris USA for 20 years. During her corporate career at Philip Morris she worked in various positions, her last as Project Management Coordinator in the Information Management department where she was responsible for the department’s mandated quality processes, communications, sales information and database management. Deneen began her Philip Morris career as a secretary and advanced to positions of increasing responsibilities. Deneen worked full-time and attended classes at night for 11 years to earn her B.A. in Managerial Marketing from Pace University, New York City. Deneen served on the Board of Trustees with The Opportunity Charter School in Harlem, New York. She appeared in educational videos for children, worked as a runway fashion model, and auditioned for television commercials. Her interests include ancient history, pistol target shooting, photography, and volunteering at her church. Deneen currently resides in Connecticut with her husband Tom.

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