Obama talks of possibly resuming White House tours

[March 13, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is opening the door to the possibility of a resumption of White House tours, if it can be worked out.

Obama says in an interview broadcast with ABC News Wednesday that the decision to cancel the tours in the wake of budget cuts was made by the Secret Service, citing the need to furlough some employees.

Revealing he's trying to ease the no-tour policy, Obama says he's talked to the Secret Service about restoring some visits.

He says, "What I'm asking them, for example, are there ways for us to accommodate school groups that may have traveled here" during spring break, which is drawing near. But Obama also says the question of resuming White House tours may hinge on "how deeply they have to furlough their staff."

[Associated Press]

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