] Schmitt said the donations help pay for the venues,
] vendors, parade-route bleachers, entertainment and other
] costs associated with staging the Jan. 20 inauguration,
] as well as lead-up events beginning Jan. 18.
]
] The inauguration is estimated to cost $30 million to $40
] million, which private donations will cover. The estimate
] includes security costs not covered by the federal and
] local government. Security is expected to be tight for
] the first inauguration since the Sept. 11, 2001,
] terrorist attacks.

WTF? Why does a second term president need to even do this? Why not give this money to No Child Left Behind? Or, y'know... feed DC's hungry and sick? Hell, feed Austin's hungry and sick.

[ Agreed. It seems like a nasty gratuitous waste on something that's all pomp and superficiality. And not just this year either. Ever. I recognize the importance of some degree of ceremony, but$ 30 million dollars worth. That's kind of grotesque. -k]

14 Give Inaugural Planners $250,000