Just two weeks after taking part in the APEC summit in Hawaii, President Barack Obama is once again planning to take the first family to the islands for their Chrismas vacation. At a campaign event during the summit last month, the president himself said it was great to be back in his home state and that, "Michelle and the girls will be back shortly for Christmas vacation as we do every year."
"We'll see if Washington gets its business done so I can get here as well. But that's always a challenge," added Obama.
Those comments came prior to the congressional super committee's failure to reach agreement on more than $1 trillion in budget cuts over a 10 year period.
According to the White House travel office, the president and his family plan to be in Hawaii from December 17th to January 2.
The Hawaii Reporter points out that while the president picks up the tab for the private Oahu resort they stay at to the tune of $3,500 a night, taxpayers cover travel and security costs.
The Reporter adds that last year's tab for the public added up to $1 million and a trip earlier this year to Martha's Vineyard racked up millions of dollars in taxpayer costs.
