Istook Reviews Ex-Presidents Office Budgets

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- US Representative Ernest Istook of Oklahoma is calling for a thorough report on the cost of offices for all five living former US presidents. <br><br>Istook is chairman of the House

Friday, March 23rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- US Representative Ernest Istook of Oklahoma is calling for a thorough report on the cost of offices for all five living former US presidents.

Istook is chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the budgets of the former presidents. He wants a General Accounting Office review of everything from square footage to the view.

The Republican also wants to know if anyone else is using the space and whether fund-raising efforts are being conducted from the offices.

Last month Istook said it would be ``extremely unwise'' for former President Clinton to lease Manhattan office space for about $700,000 a year. Clinton eventually leased less costly space in Harlem.