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November 11, 2009

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Letter: Better uses for inaugural money

Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 | 9:50 a.m.

The $40 million, not counting the millions for security, spent by President Bush's wealthy friends and contributors on his inauguration was a disgrace given the fact that we have a war going on and that many of our troops don't have badly needed equipment to protect themselves.

If Bush had any sympathy for the soldiers, he would have had a simple swearing-in and he would have donated the $40 million toward purchasing body armor and other equipment for the troops.

Donating the $40 million to the families of the troops who are risking their lives would have been another good use for the money. Many families can't afford to live on military pay.

Another major negative in this scenario is that the wealthy contributors to the inaugural are going to get paid back many times over -- at the expense of the taxpayers.

Wasn't it enough that Bush went through this once in 2001, costing the American taxpayers millions?

GENE OSKO

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