The US Senate passed S.188 the Eliminating Government-funded Oil-painting Act (EGO Act), introduced by US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA). This legislation would bar federal funds to pay for portraits of federal officers and employees, such as the president, vice president and cabinet secretaries. US Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) were original cosponsors of this legislation.
“When America is trillions of dollars in debt, we should take every reasonable measure to reduce the burden passed on to our children and grandchildren,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Tax dollars should go to building roads and improving schools—not oil paintings that few people ever see.”