NYPost

BUBBA: THE MILLION-DOLLAR BILL

By SUSAN EDELMAN

July 20, 2001 -- Bill Clinton is set to become the first ex-president in history to cost taxpayers more than $1 million a year, The Post has learned.

As Clinton prepares to move into a stylish Harlem penthouse office, Congress will be voting next week on a bill seeking $992,000 for his pension, staff and pricey office in fiscal year 2002 - and that doesn't include his Secret Service protection.

The record-breaking budget, which is expected to be approved, would make Clinton by far the most costly of the five former commanders-in-chief, with George Bush coming in a distant second, at $623,000 a year - or 37 percent less.

It could have been worse.

Criticized as having outlandishly extravagant office tastes, Clinton earlier this year was forced to drop plans to move into an $811,000-a-year working suite in Midtown's posh Carnegie Hall Tower.

Instead, he chose the Harlem digs on 125th Street - an 8,300-square-foot spread on the 14th floor with sweeping views of Manhattan. It's a relative bargain at $354,000 a year.

Clinton is set to officially move in July 30, and neighbors are planning a big welcome bash.

But critics are less excited about the move.

"Only the Washington establishment would consider a $1 million retirement package to be cutting costs," said Pete Sepp, a spokesman for the National Taxpayers Union.

"Apparently, this is Bill Clinton's idea of saving the taxpayers money."

Clinton spokeswoman Julia Payne said the General Services Administration, which made the budget request, is "applying the same formula" it uses for all former presidents."

She added, "I'm wondering when the New York Post will quit taking cheap shots at the former president and welcome him to Harlem."

The appropriations bill - which is set for a vote by the House on Tuesday - also seeks an annual $554,000 for Ronald Reagan, $508,000 for Jimmy Carter, and $497,000 for Gerald Ford - a $3.2 million total.

Congressman Ernest Istook (R-Oklahoma) - chairman of the subcommittee that oversees spending on former presidents - had put the kibosh on Clinton's Midtown plans, but supports the current request.

"One expects his expenses to be more because he is the most recent former president and the fact that he has chosen an expensive location for his office- New York City, as opposed to Arkansas," said Istook spokeswoman Micah Swafford.

The spending has to be approved by the House and the Senate, and inked by President Bush.

Only one major item in Clinton's budget is expected to drop significantly in future years. Under the Former Presidents Act, he gets $150,000 for staff salaries for the first 30 months, then $96,000 a year thereafter.

His Harlem office will be the most expensive of his peers. The next most costly will be the ailing Ronald Reagan's in California, at $177,000-a-year.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001