Gifts to Federal Employees (including Pres Obama) From Foreign Government Sources

[JEDI]

https://www.federalregister.gov/art...yees-from-foreign-government-sources-reported

Large, black Hermes golf accessory bag - est Value $7750
Bronze 48″ statue of Abraham Lincoln - est value $9800
51″ x 40″ digital C print photograph $40k
14″ blue mask sculpture by Daum, on a 10″ black and silver stand, enclosed in 34″ x 16″ x 13″ red box $53k

thought there was a $25 gift receiving limit for fed employees?

edit:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government.

 

[cubby1223]

And all the Queen received from Obama was an iPod.

 

[Pens1566]

https://www.federalregister.gov/art...yees-from-foreign-government-sources-reported

Large, black Hermes golf accessory bag - est Value $7750
Bronze 48″ statue of Abraham Lincoln - est value $9800
51″ x 40″ digital C print photograph $40k
14″ blue mask sculpture by Daum, on a 10″ black and silver stand, enclosed in 34″ x 16″ x 13″ red box $53k

thought there was a $25 gift receiving limit for fed employees?

edit:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government.

Anything over the limit is registered/reported. Then it's up to someone else what happens to it. You don't refuse the gifts.

 

[Paratus]

There is a $20 dollar/year limit for federal civil servants.

So for example if I attend a design review held by Lockheed Martin and they provide coffee and kolaches for participants they also provide a repayment jar so civil servants can pay for their breakfast.

Now if Lockheed wants to donate a couple of million to a senators re-election campaign that would be considered free speech.

 

[Fenixgoon]

https://www.federalregister.gov/art...yees-from-foreign-government-sources-reported

Large, black Hermes golf accessory bag - est Value $7750
Bronze 48″ statue of Abraham Lincoln - est value $9800
51″ x 40″ digital C print photograph $40k
14″ blue mask sculpture by Daum, on a 10″ black and silver stand, enclosed in 34″ x 16″ x 13″ red box $53k

thought there was a $25 gift receiving limit for fed employees?

edit:
Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government.

lol the peons in the federal government (most people) have to play by the rules.

high-ups (congress, president, etc) don't have to.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Gifts are supposed to be registered and then they belong to the Federal government not the receipient

 

[IronWing]

Most of Obama's gifts were sent to the archives where they'll sit in a crate next to the Ark of the Covenant.

 

[JEDI]

Gifts are supposed to be registered and then they belong to the Federal government not the receipient

ahh.. unlike the British queen who gets to keep all her gifts.
altho the queen position is symbolic and has no direct power over govt

so what happens to the gifts have Pres Obama leaves office?
auctioned? if so, who/where?

 

[Triumph]

There is a $20 dollar/year limit for federal civil servants.

So for example if I attend a design review held by Lockheed Martin and they provide coffee and kolaches for participants they also provide a repayment jar so civil servants can pay for their breakfast.

Now if Lockheed wants to donate a couple of million to a senators re-election campaign that would be considered free speech.

I know, it's laughable. It's to prevent influencing federal employees in their decision making. Yet the people who actually make the far reaching decisions are all but immune from limitations on gifts.

 

[SheHateMe]

Queue Incorruptible crying about this.

 

[Vic Vega]

I think the titles are hilarious...

The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States.

His Excellency Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China.

The Right Honorable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada.

His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.

 

[SheHateMe]

"His Excellency" is my favorite.

 

[Paratus]

I always liked, "His most holy and invisible wonder"

 

[Sonikku]

Gifts are supposed to be registered and then they belong to the Federal government not the receipient

Kind of like the higher ups in the Catholic church living in penthouses and driving fancy cars but not actually "owning" any of it, it belongs to the "church". :awe:

 

[EagleKeeper]

ahh.. unlike the British queen who gets to keep all her gifts.
altho the queen position is symbolic and has no direct power over govt

so what happens to the gifts have Pres Obama leaves office?
auctioned? if so, who/where?

National Archives; Federal Museums or storage incase another upper level Fed offical wants to display such.

 

[berzerker60]

Also, a lot of the value of these gifts to Obama are generated BECAUSE they were gifted to Obama. A $1000 set of golf clubs is suddenly worth a lot more at auction if they belonged to an important president. Check ebay for anything claiming to once belong to JFK and I bet it's going for significantly more than its nominal worth.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Also, a lot of the value of these gifts to Obama are generated BECAUSE they were gifted to Obama. A $1000 set of golf clubs is suddenly worth a lot more at auction if they belonged to an important president. Check ebay for anything claiming to once belong to JFK and I bet it's going for significantly more than its nominal worth.

So these gifts will be worth a lot less?