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President Obama Will Have Secret Service Protection For the Rest of His Life

Jan. 10, 2013 8:30pm Becket Adams

The Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012 Gives Obama, George W. Bush Lifetime Secret Service Protection

Members of the Secret Service wait after President Barack Obama arrived at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport March 16, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law H.R. 6620, the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, granting lifetime Secret Service protection to all former presidents, their wives (unless they remarry), and their children under the age of 16.

“The measure Obama signed Thursday applies to presidents elected after Jan. 1, 1997, specifically Obama and former President George W. Bush,” the Associated Press explains.

“It reverses a 1994 law that ended Secret Service protection 10 years after a president leaves office. Under that law, the Homeland Security secretary could extend such protection on a temporary basis,” the report adds.

Citing increased terrorist threats and “the greater mobility and youth of former presidents,” Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), one of the bill’s chief sponsors, argued that a change in the 10-year limit was necessary.

“Both men are young, enjoy good health, and have long lives ahead of them post-Presidency,” Gowdy said during a speech on the House floor. “This bill proposes to extend that security for the remainder of their lives.”

“There’s an unintended anomaly, Mr. Speaker, that if current law were not changed, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush would receive more protections by virtue of being First Lady than they would if they had served as President themselves. So I hope my colleagues will make sure that the person and the symbol of our Presidency is safe and secure for the duration of their natural lives,” he added.

The House overwhelmingly supported the bill.

Secret Service snipers stand atop containers as US President George W. Bush makes remarks in Jacksonville, Florida, March 18, 2008. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

“The bill was … passed by voice-vote in early December,” BuffFeed’s Zeke Miller notes.

“Co-sponsors included Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, and Democrats Rep. John Conyers and Bobby Scott. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on December 28th, and sent over to the White House on New Year’s Day,” he adds.

President Obama signed the bill Thursday afternoon.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Front page photo courtesy Getty Images

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Comments (150)

chamsalang
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:53pm
It seems to me former presidents make a enough money to pay for their own security.

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Call2Action
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:41pm
Will this SS protection be extended to the jail cell Obama will be occupying once a real investigation uncovers the crimes against the US that he has comitted?

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RestoreCapitalism
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:17pm
This unfortunate fact is certainly a waste of tax money. We can only hope it won’t be very long.

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LukeAppling
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:01pm
Obama is not Mr. Tranparency or Mr. Honor but is Mr Hypocrite! How does he or his family look at him without laughing at what integrity he lacks?

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SgtWD
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:01pm
President Obama signed a law that gives him armed security for life and provides his kids armed security until they are 16 years old. I don’t have a problem with this. Given the position he holds this action is reasonable even for when he is no longer in elected office.

Since the President gets full time security for life, armed with fully automatic assault weapons. It is also reasonable that Joe Average American be allowed to have his weapon of choice like the semi-automatic AR-15 with high capacity magazines for his own use and family protection.

For those of you who would disagree, I ask; Why? Aren’t you and your family just as important as the Presidents. Are you saying your kids are not as important as his?

Sarah and Lil Johnny come here please. Daddy and Mommy just wanted you to know that you are just not that important. Yes we love you but the Presidents kids are more important then you are.

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ZOZOMAN
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:24am
sounds like someone is worried about karma….just sayin’

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jessieH
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:13am
The treasonous SOB will need it.

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jblovesAmerica
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:06am
Obama like Gore-big time hypocrisy

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jblovesAmerica
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:57am
WOW-seem we can use Executive Privilege and remove this as well.
no none is that special-if you think so-pay for it yourself-this service is needed for those in office only

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Blazen420
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:45am
How ironic? He wants to guarantee himself protection for life.

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GuruMeditation
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:43am
Hypocrisy at it’s finest.

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jettson
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:27am
What is really stuid is Al Gore will to. For the rest o his life

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jettson
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:23am
What is really stupid is Al Gore gets it to. For the rest of his life.

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Sicialian Eyeball
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:58am
But……. In the end,who will protect him from the Secret Service? Et Tu Brutus? Just a thought.

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oxycontinxx
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:37am
obama needs protection for the rest of his life. after what he’s done to this country and it citizenry, someone, somewhere is going to try to get at him.

not a matter of if……………….just a matter of when and how.

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KalanVA
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:55am
He needs to include these services as income and pay income taxes on this service.

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huey6367
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:55am
He’s gonna need it.

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M24
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 6:57am
Waste Of Taxpayers Money !!!!

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LovinUSA
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 4:27am
“Protected for life”????? We need to make a 6 foot prophylactic for this dick.

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LovinUSA
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 4:04am
Imagine that? Can’t understand why he would want to be protected? For life? Why? Wonder what he’ll be protected with? Perhaps a large prophylactic, h-m-m-m-m?

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Advection
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:08am
Imagine the size balls one needs to do this, while simultaneously robbing every other American even the opportunity to defend themselves!

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CommonSense41
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:00am
So, we are the people got hooked to pay for BHO protection for the rest of his life. What a waste of tax payer’s money. We should press the congress to change this regulation. We do not have money for this kind of business. We should spend $9, 000,000.00 for something more useful.

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blackyb
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:11am
Not if he is thrown out of office as he should be. We will have to see what Judge Roberts says about the conference he and the U.S. Supreme Court are doing with the evidence of Obama’s eligibility.

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republic2011
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:43pm
I’m fine with the protection.. God knows he’ll need it.. but, please relieve them of their guns like they plan to do to the rest of us. We don’t want anymore gun violence…Barry.

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kenboy
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:30pm
Obongo destruction of the Constitution will ensure he will be in no good company whomever protects him.

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