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Subscribe to RSSIn light of ongoing budget battles, the White House released a memo suggesting the sequester could shut down the 135 annual Easter Egg Roll. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
Could politics shut down the White House Easter Egg Roll?
The annual event, along the same lines as the hokey White House tradition of the Thanksgiving Turkey pardon, will celebrate its 135th anniversary this year — unless the partisan battle over the sequester gets in the way.
A memo released by the White House last week is causing a stir, as it seems to hint that the sequester could shut down the Egg Roll.
The White House invitation to the event, which went out to all members of Congress, 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. If cancelled, the event will not be re-scheduled. We will notify you if there are any modifications to this event.”
More than 35,000 people are expected at the festivities on the South Lawn. The 2013 souvenir eggs come in purple, blue, yellow and pink and include the stamped figures of the president and first lady, according to the White House website. The five-pack "Collector’s Egg Set" also includes a commemorative “Bo” egg; commemorative eggs become part of the tradition in 1981, under President Reagan.
But if you’re a Congressperson — or one of the lucky regular folks who won a ticket via the lottery system to the 2013 Easter Egg Roll on April 1 — you can breathe a sigh of relief.
A staffer at the White House Office of Legislative Affairs told TODAY.com on Monday that a cancellation of the event is unlikely.
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” he said.
On Monday, the White House seemed to anticipate that the Egg Roll would go off without a hitch, as it released a promotional video of Bo Obama hunting for Easter eggs on the White House lawn.
Press Secretary Jay Carney also reassured a crowd last week that the event would happen as scheduled.
More: Bo hunts for White House Easter Eggs
Kid President helps Obama spread the word about Easter Egg Roll
This story was originally published on Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:52 PM EDT
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They already bought the eggs. Still ought to cancel. The taxpayers are paying for the guests and families of Congress to do this and they ought to be working
The cuts have already been mandated right? The cuts have happened. The cuts I'd like to see are ending career politicians, ending entitlement spending, ending military spending, ending foreign aid spending (at least until our own nation is in better shape).
What I see going on is this big gun argument being used as a smoke screen for the real problems we're facing. The 'sequester' happened and the country didn't disintegrate. So let's get our act together. Our public servants - all 454 of them in the house and senate need to work for us now. I would fire many of them for ineffective or plain bad work if it were possible.
"The cuts I'd like to see are ending career politicians, ending entitlement spending, ending military spending, ending foreign aid spending (at least until our own nation is in better shape)."
I agree with you on most of this but think again about military spending. This just may keep you from say "Si" instead of "Yes"! I can tell you were never in the military and don't know or don't care about the hardships they go through. They are on duty 24/7. Yes they usually work normal hours but they can be called up at any time and they don't get OVERTIME.
Lets hope the sequester does not impact toilet paper procurement for the Obama residence. This is more evidence they need lots of it.
Photo Op for the Kenyan and his Family living in Government housing, of course it will go on. Come on 2014 Elections.............................Heads are going to roll!
I use toilet paper every time after I take a big Obama.
pgulrich, Patiodaddy, ctviking, It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
This is stupid. Give the eggs to the hungrey and forget it.
Feed the poor instead!
I was thinking that myself! Good solution.
they are wooden eggs mary what would the hungry do with them?
There shouldn't be future Easter egg rolls.lt is the dumbest tradition by far.
Hmmmmm who cares? the money has already been spent to buy and prepare the eggs. BTW the eggs aren't edibile. This is just one more attack on our traditions in America. Dumb or not it should go on.
"dumb or not it should go on". Nope. I'm sure there must be more monies to be spent on the event. Food? Transportation? Secret Service? etc.
Please cancel this ridiculous tradition. Sequester is SEQUESTER
It must really be a slow news day for some dufus to have to print a story like this. By the way it's nice to know I am hated, which sermon did Christ say that in? Hate the liberals! Really? Nice to know we might be on the same side, I'll watch my back in the next war I have to fight for you.
Ok you bah humbug people. The easter egg hunt is innocent fun for all (other than everyone kids they also bring in kids from foster homes etc. They are plastic so you can't feed them to the poor and everything has already been paid for. What Obama could do is pay for it out of his pocket instead of ours but that's not likely to happen!
Only if Pres Obama wants it to. Seems he's stressing very public cuts while he funds robot squirrels.
I'm moving out of the US. Period...
Sequester cuts tuition coverage for military personnel but pays for an Easter Egg hunt? While you're cutting the rolls, cut the Roll. Something's very wrong with the Whitehouse fiscal eggheads. Besides, isn't this administration all for cutting religion from political and public life? Easter is a religious holiday. Now is not the time to be hypocritical.
If Obama needs help finding where to cut I would be happy to help. How about cutting 50% off of the TSA uniform budget? A reduction from $1,000.00 per employee to $500.00. And they can still get everything they were promised. That would be 25 million in savings overall for 2013. Whoever signed that contract must be planning on a job with VF International after retiring from the Federal payroll.
Yeah, the Easter Egg Roll is much more important than say...oh, I don't know....Air Traffic Controllers.
Yep. So glad to see that our "President" has his priorities straight.
we are talking about the uniforms not the controllers you can still do your job in a 500.00 uniform!
The only kids in attendance, are those of the 1 %. Makes for a great photo op I guess, if anything....big deal
nope I am not rich I entered the lottery online and got tickets for my kids. I make 59k a year and my wife has been out of work for 3 years. I am not a fan of Obama but I am taking my kids.
I agree with many of the comments so far. DoD's budget gets cut by roughly $43B and thousands of federal employees are likely to be furloughed, but we're going to fund an Easter Egg Roll? Oh... I forgot, this is for the kids. But, wait... the Marine Corps just reduced their Youth Activities program budget by $3M. Good job supporting the kids Mr. President.
Sorry... double post. Darn mouse.
With Government Workers forced to take 20% pay cuts, why fund frivolous festivities?
Cut the budget for this event!
I absolutely agree! Breaking the backs of US employees in order to continue to give money to countries who hate us...bad choice.
Good Grief.... stop acting like a nation of paupers....
Yes, lets shut down the USDA this summer and cripple the food manufacturers, ensure that food costs go up, but for God's sake, DON'T CANCEL THE EASTER EGG HUNT!
WOW!!! President Stinky (bo) Benghazi's a real piece of work, huh? Well.....he's a piece of something anyway. "Garbage" would be the PC choice.
I would not go THERE for Easter, I'll tell you that right now.
Open the Parks for Families on Easter!
I think that our wonderful state and federal parks offer a better choice and beautiful landscape to introduce our national park system to our children who should be aware of it and learn to appreciate it so that they may one day carry on the tradition of preservation as Theodore Roosevelt established conclusively.
Imagine having an egg roll or hunt with the backdrop of Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota, or Wupatki Native American preserve in AZ. We have so very much beautiful land in this nation. It can only be appreciated and remembered, if you visit.
Hope, the cuts have NOT already been made. Federal employees across the country are now entering into our 6 month furlough, losing 20% of our pay. This Easter Egg Hunt is so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I say cancel it. Maybe the Washington "do nothings" will have to find something else to do with their time, like, I dont know; balance the budget. When the furloughs kick in, I predict no federal employee will be doing much spending at all. And that's a lot of us...great for the economy...well done, Washington. We are still giving money to Egypt and other countries who hate us, so I guess sacrificing the financial stability of our own citizens is acceptable...crazy!
Are you kidding me! People are having their pay checks slashed, and you wanted to have an EASTER EGG ROll so Congress can bring their family and friends. Get a grip on what is going on. Washington perception and public reality - not even close.
Obama has shown that he has no intention of implementing the sequester in good faith. There is absolutely no budgetary reason to cancel the Easter Egg Roll. Use 5% less staff, 5% less eggs, serve 5% less punch, and send out 5% less invitations. You can still have a very nice, memorable event.
He put that note on the invitations just to rub some more salt in the wound (since the invitations were going to members of Congress).
Basically, he's just being an a$$hole.
Any excuse to cut a "Christian" holiday.