juanjo
BSB Addict
Regarding the "newly broke Secret Service agents" this requires a bit more explanation than typically given. There are roughly 3300 field agents in the SS - out guarding people as we see with the president. They make around 161k a year for doing that job. Trump and his family had SS protection 24/7 which is required under law. However, they were well-known for disregarding the niceties and while using agents on their various junkets, did not pay any attention to the fine details. Many other Trump appointees who had SS protection did the same. The president has the power to order the SS to protect specific people if he so chooses. Trump extended protection to certain people close to him who normally would not be covered. Why he did so is not specified n anything I read. So lots of activity, day and night, and all over the place. Also, when Obama was president the Republican-controlled House cut the budget for agents by 10%. Trump became president they increased it by 20%.
Secret Service agents are limited as to the amount of overtime they may charge in a given pay period [2-weeks] and that limit is based on a mathematical formula derived from a percentage of their weekly pay. They are not supposed to receive more than 22,000.00 a year in overtime. Because Trump, his family, and his appointees were all busy using the system to protect themselves, not to mention the fact that Trump had numerous properties all over which he and his family would hop off to visit whenever they felt like doing so, all those properties had to be covered 24/7 as well. The result was the agents were maxing out on overtime and not being paid for all their overtime. The SS was forced to repeatedly seek a waiver from whoever controlled their budget, as well as, seek additional allocations from the House to cover expenses.
Interesting side note. There is nothing specific that forbids an agent from eating while in a restaurant guarding someone [unless it is the president] but they typically do not eat. However, so as not to call attention to themselves, they are supposed to order food and drink in order to appear to be regular customers. They are supposed to pay for the items ordered and submit a voucher for reimbursement to their supervisor. This reimbursement is subject to the same restrictions as overtime and as is true for all governmental employees there is a per diem limit on what can be spent on a meal. I doubt these administration folks were sliding into In-n-Out for a Double-Double with animal fires so I can see agents nursing a coffee or a coke.
As to the treatment of restaurant staff, I think the old adage about the best tippers are those who worked in restaurants in the past is true. Likewise, there are those who are just completely lacking in class when it comes to behaving in public around others. I think we have all met people like that. I worked in restaurants when I was younger and I always treat restaurant employees as I would have wanted to be treated when I worked in places. I also tip well. And, I also know what can happen when someone behaves really badly in a restaurant.
haha
