Trump donates the first quarter of his salary to the National Parks Service

[UWDude]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-parks-idUSKBN17529L

this is for everybody who was questioning whether he would take his pay, or proof he would do as he said and donate his pay.

[TheTexan]

That's awesome! I think it's great that he's returning our tax dollars that pay his salary back to the government.

I can't think of anyone more worthy of being given back that money than the National Parks Service.

[Origanalist]

That's awesome! I think it's great that he's returning our tax dollars that pay his salary back to the government.

I can't think of anyone more worthy of being given back that money than the National Parks Service.

Without them how could we enjoy nature?

[CPUd]

848983923644346369
https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/848983923644346369

[Occam's Banana]

1. Get government money taken from taxpayers.
2. Give that money back to the government.
3. ???? Take deduction for "donation" on personal income taxes.
4. PROFIT!!!!

[UWDude]

1. Get government money taken from taxpayers.
2. Give that money back to the government.
3. ???? Take deduction for "donation" on personal income taxes.
4. PROFIT!!!!

I don't think you understand how deductions work.

[AngryCanadian]

848983923644346369
https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/848983923644346369

deleted tweet.

[kpitcher]

Oh so the donating pay was one of the things he said he'd do that he actually meant, he wasn't joking or going to flip flop? That's good I guess.

Simple minds like mine have trouble keeping up.

[TheTexan]

Without them how could we enjoy nature?

Its entirely probable that without them, trees wouldnt even exist

[sam1952]

There behind a glass is a real blade of grass
be careful as you pass.
Move along! Move along!

Emerson, Lake and Palmer

[Dr.3D]

Now if we can just get rid of the National Park Service.
Before they took over an area where I used to camp with my family as a child, we could pitch a tent on the beach.
Now we can't even camp in that area.

[Occam's Banana]

I don't think you understand how deductions work. http://i.imgur.com/RZkSVmJ.jpg

[oyarde]

I would have rather he gave it to a VA hospital or something . What if I told you there should be no National park ?

[Dr.3D]

I would have rather he gave it to a VA hospital or something . What if I told you there should be no National park ?
I agree, there should be no national parks.

[Ender]

I would have rather he gave it to a VA hospital or something . What if I told you there should be no National park ?

'Zactly; and most who watched the Bundy debacle would agree. Trump is extremely pro gov land ownership.

[Suzanimal]

I would have rather he gave it to a VA hospital or something . What if I told you there should be no National park ?

I'd rather he threw it over the gate at the White House. It'd be put to better use.

[JK/SEA]

he could buy some cement for the wall.

[EBounding]

This video has a cringe level of 8 out of 10.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXSNJtDMVSU

[Suzanimal]

It could've used some balloons and confetti.


This video has a cringe level of 8 out of 10.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXSNJtDMVSU

[oyarde]

It could've used some balloons and confetti.

If I was dictator there would be beers , martinis and shrimp cocktails .

[shakey1]

There behind a glass is a real blade of grass
be careful as you pass.
Move along! Move along!

Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Awesome quote!:cool:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/-grand_canyon-national_park-national_park_service-gag_order-trump-tmcn4873_low.jpg

[dannno]

Meh, National Parks aren't sooo bad. They don't take up a lot of space like National Forests, or worse, BLM land, and they are generally areas that have beauty that arguably should be preserved and they are enjoyed by millions of people. It is probably one of the more successful government programs in that regard, if you want to rank government programs on their 'success'... and I am VERY strongly opposed to the federal government owning land, but if they are going to own land then a few national wonders isn't the worst thing for them to own. Grazing land and large swaths of mineral rich lands are a much worse offense.

That doesn't mean I think the federal government should be doing it, it should be done by the market or more local governments. I just think if you are going to rank government programs by how harmful they are, or even just government land owning programs, National Parks would be in the least harmful category I think.

[Zippyjuan]

Don't feel sorry about him giving up his salary. He is collecting millions in taxpayer dollars in other ways.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/07/politics/military-to-rent-space-trump-tower/


US military to rent space in Trump Tower

Washington (CNN)The US military is looking to lease space in Trump Tower.

"In order to meet official mission requirements, the Department of Defense is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower," Lt. Col. JB Brindle, a Defense Department spokesman, told CNN. "The space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building."

Military support for a president, including the military staff assigned to keeping the "nuclear football" nearby, requires close proximity to the commander in chief, which is why the Pentagon needs to rent a more expensive space closer to the penthouse where Trump resides when he's in New York.

After Trump's election, the US Secret Service investigated renting a floor in the same facility, a midtown Manhattan building that sits on one of the busiest streets in the country. The Secret Service did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

According to Jared Horowitz, who works for the company responsible for available commercial space at Trump Tower, the floors available to rent -- with the average floor space running between 13,500 to 15,500 square feet -- cost about $1.5 million a year. Trump Tower is owned by the Trump Organization.



Secret service also renting space from Trump. He makes money every time he goes to Mara Largo too (which is about every weekend).

[Suzanimal]

If I was dictator there would be beers , martinis and shrimp cocktails .

They didn't even have a big check. Just a picture of one on the screen tv. :(

[Zippyjuan]

They didn't even have a big check. Just a picture of one on the screen tv. :(

Literally and figuratively it wasn't a big check either. About $78,000. While at the same time wanting to cut their budget by $1.5 billion.


Zinke hinted, however, that the president's gift won't go very far.

"We're about $229 million behind in deferred maintenance on our battlefields alone," he said.

http://www.npr.org/2017/04/04/522518472/trump-donates-salary-to-national-parks-even-as-he-tries-to-cut-interior-departme

[JK/SEA]

how much did Ron give back, and who/where did it go to?

[Zippyjuan]

how much did Ron give back, and who/where did it go to?

As I recall, he gave back some of his office budget but not his own paycheck. https://ivn.us/2010/03/02/congressman-ron-paul-returns-whopping-100000-his-office-budget-us-treasury/


Congressman Ron Paul returns a whopping $100,000 of his office budget to the US Treasury


Like him or hate him, Dr. Ron Paul doesn’t just talk a big game about fiscal conservatism, he lives it. In 2008, his congressional office returned $58,000 to the Treasury. In 2009, his office returned $90,000. Now, according to an official press release, Dr. Ron Paul’s congressional office has just paid back $100,000.

How much do they get? https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/13/how-much-does-it-cost-run-congressional-office/


Per-office budgets range from $1.27 million to $1.546 million.

[UWDude]

As I recall, he gave back some of his office budget but not his own paycheck. https://ivn.us/2010/03/02/congressman-ron-paul-returns-whopping-100000-his-office-budget-us-treasury/



Trump gave back money from his transition funds as well... ...1.4M IIRC.

[UWDude]

I would have rather he gave it to a VA hospital or something . What if I told you there should be no National park ?

Id say its one more reason Im glad people like you never get elected to anything.


I agree, there should be no national parks.


'Zactly; and most who watched the Bundy debacle would agree. Trump is extremely pro gov land ownership.

One of the reasons Libertarian purists lost me years ago. Somehow, if it isn't being used for money, it isn't being used right. I remember this issues coming up about 5 years ago. The National Park system is one of the best things the US ever did.

[EBounding]

They didn't even have a big check. Just a picture of one on the screen tv. :(

I would have died if Spicer pulled out a novelty check.

[tod evans]

The National Park system is one of the best things the US ever did.

Everything government gets involved in it fucks up.

[Origanalist]

Muh Parks!

[Jan2017]

Rand has given quite a bit back to the US Treasury . . .

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah180/81501/randcheck01_zpsgf2knonp.jpg (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/81501/media/randcheck01_zpsgf2knonp.jpg.html)

[Wooden Indian]

Good for him, I guess. I'm "meh" on it. Were he paying for his own security details, I'd be more impressed. Had he saved it up annually and reduced my taxes a couple of cents, for no other reason than the symbolic gesture, I'd be even more impressed.

Giving my money to a different pocket of the same pants just doesn't blow my skirt up and make me holler.

[opal]

wait.. hold the phone.. math moment

did the president's "salary" change?
$78333.32.. one quarter

313333.28 is the annual number now?

also.. when did the parks service become a charity? Government entities are not charities. If he was going to donate to a charity.. this is another epic fail.

[UWDude]

Everything government gets involved in it $#@!s up.

Yeah? How did they fuck up the national parks? As a frequent visitor, Im impressed.



also.. when did the parks service become a charity? Government entities are not charities. If he was going to donate to a charity.. this is another epic fail.

I think you are abusing the word epic.
Also, Im glad he didnt give it to a charity. Most charities are rip-offs.

Seriously, dude gives away his presidential pay... ...haters say epic fail.

[Occam's Banana]

wait.. hold the phone.. math moment

did the president's "salary" change?
$78333.32.. one quarter

313333.28 is the annual number now?

Since 2001, POTUS gets paid $400,000 gross per year (in addition to expense accounts and the like).

$313,333.28 would be net pay (after income tax witholding, etc.).

[helmuth_hubener]

Since 2001, POTUS gets paid $400,000 gross per year (in addition to expense accounts and the like).

$313,333.28 would be net pay (after income tax witholding, etc.).

If he donates it all, couldn't he deduct that? And then he'd have the full $400,000 to donate... to the government. Tax free! <head explodes>

[r3volution 3.0]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-parks-idUSKBN17529L

this is for everybody who was questioning whether he would take his pay, or proof he would do as he said and donate his pay.

http://www.redstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CrazyTrumpFans.jpg

And if he donates his salary for the next twelve million quarters, that'll (almost) cover the stimulus he's proposing!


Since 2001, POTUS gets paid $400,000 gross per year (in addition to expense accounts and the like).

$313,333.28 would be net pay (after income tax witholding, etc.).

Assinine that they tax government salaries (or cash welfare [but I repeat myself]) when they could just lower the initial payment...

...make-work for the IRS.


Its entirely probable that without them, trees wouldnt even exist

And then how would we print the ballots?!

[Anti Federalist]

Seriously, dude gives away his presidential pay... ...haters say epic fail.

Yeah, gotta go with you on this.

Ron and Rand have/had done similar things for years, and it was one of the reasons I supported both.

Granting the fact that in the great grand scheme of the massive tax monster that is the District of Criminals, 78 large isn't much, but that represents more than a year's pay to most Americans.

Bashing the fact that Trump takes no presidential salary, from our quarter anyway, comes off as petty and small.

[helmuth_hubener]

Yeah, gotta go with you on this.

Ron and Rand have/had done similar things for years, and it was one of the reasons I supported both.

Ditto.

[specsaregood]

Yeah, gotta go with you on this.

Ron and Rand have/had done similar things for years, and it was one of the reasons I supported both.

Granting the fact that in the great grand scheme of the massive tax monster that is the District of Criminals, 78 large isn't much, but that represents more than a year's pay to most Americans.

Bashing the fact that Trump takes no presidential salary, from our quarter anyway, comes off as petty and small.

indeed, not gonna complain one bit about this.

[TER]

This was a nice gesture to appease the left after undoing Obama's 'climate change' regulations.

He has at least another 15 times to donate. I'm sure one of the next ones will be to the federal veteran's health system.

That too would be a good gesture from the President.

[oyarde]

I consider national parks as very evil . First , the govt owns too much land and should not . Second , the actual taxpayers who really pay for that shit , median income type people who are the 3 in 10 americans who actually pay more tax than they receive , do not use them . So it is an evil tax by evil people paid for by force by people who do not use it . Not much worse than that .

[TER]

I consider national parks as very evil . First , the govt owns too much land and should not . Second , the actual taxpayers who really pay for that shit , median income type people who are the 3 in 10 americans who actually pay more tax than they receive , do not use them . So it is an evil tax by evil people paid for by force by people who do not use it . Not much worse than that .

It probably serves an advantage to a nation to have land for the federal government. Now, I think they have waaaaay too much of it, but I don't have a major problem if certain landmarks and natural beauty are protected and owned by the federal government. I have a problem when there is way too much of it.

What Trump did was symbolic and a gesture of goodwill, and it should be well regarded and praised, even as we have other issues which divide us all.