Debbie Bosanek, Warren Buffett's Secretary, To Sit With Michelle Obama At State Of The Union

WASHINGTON (AP) — The secretary for one of the world's wealthiest men and the wife of late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs are among those invited by the White House to attend the State of the Union address.

The State of the Union guest list has become an annual rite, with the first lady's box taking on the sort of gravitas shown at the Academy Awards' Red Carpet ceremony. The guests often have ties to a proposal or initiative the president will outline in the address.

Among this year's guests are Debbie Bosanek, the longtime secretary for billionaire Warren Buffett. Obama frequently cites Buffett's complaint that the nation's tax code is unfair because he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary, and was expected to do so again Tuesday,

The White House said Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, would also attend Obama's prime-time address.

Adam Rapp, a cancer survivor from Fall Creek Township, Ill. was also expected to join Michelle Obama in the first lady's box Tuesday night. The White House said Rapp has benefitted from Obama's health care overhaul.

Mark Kelly, former astronaut and husband of outgoing Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, will attend as well. Giffords is resigning from Congress to focus on her recovery after being shot, but will be on the House floor during the State of the Union.

The Navy SEAL who commanded the risky, top-secret raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden last year is another guest. Adm. William McRaven now heads the military's Special Operations Command.

Other guests include:

— Sgt. Ashleigh Berg; Malibu, Calif.; served two tours of duty in Iraq.

— Alicia Boler-Davis; Detroit; plant manager at General Motors Orion Assembly.

— Jackie Bray; King's Mountain, N.C.; process operator at Siemens Charlotte Energy Hub.

— Mayor Julián Castro; San Antonio, Tex.

— Bruce Cochrane; Lincolnton, N.C.; president and CEO of Lincolnton Furniture.

— Sara Ferguson; Parkside, Pa.; literacy and math teacher at Columbus Elementary.

— Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita; Cleveland; founder, president and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics.

— Mahala Greer; Denver; student at University of Colorado Denver.

— Adrienne Howard; San Diego; military spouse.

— Mike Krieger; San Francisco; co-founder of Instagram.

— Lorelei Kilker; Brighton, Colo.; analytical chemist.

— Joan Milligan; Orlando, Fla.; refinanced home through Obama's Home Affordable Refinance Program.

— Amber Morris; Virginia Beach, Va.; responded to White House Twitter question during last year's payroll tax debate.

— Juan Jose Redín; North Hollywood, Calif.; attorney.

— Bryan Ritterby; Holland, Mich.; lab technician.

— Col. Ginger Wallace, McLean, Va.; Air Force intelligence officer

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[yeti7]

08:59 AM on 01/30/2012

What so special about her anyway? She just another rich person.

[buckeroo]

01:48 PM on 01/26/2012

The President,as leader of his party, once again expressed that every American should pay his fair share in taxes. One sizable loophole in the Federal Tax Code is TAX EXCLUSION INCOME. It is time to do something about this unfair tax revenue placed disproportionally on small business & especially the self-reliant. The President is correct we are all in this mess together. It is time to correct the inequity of Tax Exclusion income for some rather than for all workers earning income & paying taxes on all received income. There is no reason for this inequity especially after the President many request for equity.

[OLJW00]

11:29 PM on 01/25/2012

It's a wonder she can even make ends meet making upwards of $500,000 a year...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/01/25/warren-buffetts-secretary-likely-makes-between-200000-and-500000year/

[yeti7]

09:02 AM on 01/30/2012

Doesn't that put her in the top 2%?
These people (Obamas people) amaze
me, putting her out there like that now
her life will probably be ruined by all
the publicity. Wait she probably has
a book coming out. Only in America!

[OLJW00]

02:55 PM on 01/30/2012

The REALLY sad part is trying to discuss this issue with people that have no concept of the difference between income which is taxed at a fixed rate....and investment income which is taxed differently BECAUSE investing carry risks that people who rely on working a set amount of hours for a GUARANTEED paycheck simply don't have... Additionally, employees typically don't INVEST their own money to help finance the business where they work. If an employee however INVESTS his or her own money then they too can take advantage of the related tax rate associated with CAP GAINS. OF course, if said investment goes South and they lose all of it - well - that was part of the risk of investing to garner a higher return BECAUSE an investment like this ASSUMES MORE RISK. And if you raise (or even double as some have suggested) the Cap Gains tax then you will see a massive reduction in investing which will further hurt the economy and cause many more people to lose their jobs.

[blueken60]

04:05 PM on 01/25/2012

To all the trolls who see self interest in everything, because self interest is all you understand, I would like to say this. Warren Buffet has a standing offer. If you love your country, and want to see the deficit lowered, he will match, dollar for dollar any congressman who will send money to the Treasury to reduce our debt. He also has a standing offer to Mitch McConnel of matching him 3 to one. Put your money where your mouth is Republicans. Buffet says he is not worried about any of them takeing him up on his offer.

[OLJW00]

11:30 PM on 01/25/2012

Doesn't really matter at this point...

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/national-debt

[blueken60]

08:53 AM on 01/26/2012

Yeah it does matter. Like Mittens says "We are in a fight for the soul of this country". I don't want a vulture capitilist to win. Vultiure capitilists have their place. That place is not the White House.

[buckeroo]

01:53 PM on 01/26/2012

What does that prove ? What is your point ? If you are not a Warren Buffet you should not have an opinion ? Since when is an example a person with a salary of $200 -500.000. Get real !

[blueken60]

03:24 PM on 01/26/2012

My point is that while some people wrap themselves up in the flag and wear their patriotism on their sleeve, other people are willing to put their money where their mouth is. I don't make $200k a year, but if Ietting the Bush tax breaks expire means that we can have a more just and compassionate society, I'm willing to do that. Would you spend a dollar to feed the poor and give the elderly health care? If the answer is yes, then we just need to come up with a number. If the answer is no, then we are on the road to Somalia.

[hmggrunt]

01:30 PM on 01/25/2012

How much does Buffet pay his secretary per year? Shouldn't we see her tax return?

[rysagr]

07:11 PM on 01/25/2012

seems we should since they keep trotting her out there

[OLJW00]

11:30 PM on 01/25/2012

They are reporting that it's upward of a half million a year..

Poor thing..

[yeti7]

09:05 AM on 01/30/2012

Plus a vacation home, plus stock options, and the stock isn't cheap.

[Wow Unbelievable]

10:22 AM on 01/25/2012

Guess what Billionaire is going to profit from Mr Prez decision to scrap the pipeline and k! ll 10's of thousand of jobs?

[Mailman]

07:35 AM on 01/25/2012

Class warfare is like race warfare they work because of emotions.

[gomezrules]

12:43 AM on 01/25/2012

If Buffett is really concerned with his secretary's tax situation, shy doesn't he do for her what he has done for himself and base her compensation on his investments? That's how easy it is to fix it!

[sobaytransplant]

04:08 AM on 01/25/2012

So, changing ONE person's situation fixes the entire problem?

I have a better idea. How about if we just REFORM THE TAX CODE so EVERYONE benefits?

[rysagr]

07:12 PM on 01/25/2012

lol maybe the problem is your guy

[gomezrules]

01:45 AM on 01/26/2012

Buffett used HER to illustrate his alleged point. So YES, let's see him put up or shut up and start with HER to make her life so much better. And Buffett dodges those requests to prove that he is living as he is talking..

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/white-house-won-t-say-how-it-knows-what-warren-buffet-secretary-pay-taxes

As to how much his secretary makes, there are various figures being given...The below link says she makes $60k...

http://tusb.stanford.edu/2007/07/warren_buffet_has_a_lower_tax.html

While others speculate, based on established tax rates and how much income THEY apply to, on a much higher compensatory amount...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/01/25/warren-buffetts-secretary-likely-makes-between-200000-and-500000year/

If these people are going to try to influence policy in this country, then I don't think it's 'unfair' to ask of them that they should show us just what their basis is for doing so! As the saying goes: show us they money!

All that said, I agree with reforming the tax code. I'm tired of paying taxes while half the country does not. I say a flat tax for all that does not exceed 15% for all money over 25% made by everyone! Get rid of many, but not all, of the deductions and credits on there now. Make all income from all sources (cap gains, income, inheritance, etc.) taxable at that same rate. I have no problem with a low VAT, IF implementing a VAT is accompanied by reductions in the income tax rates, to the point where a VAT doesn't exceed 5%, or eliminate all income taxes and impose a 7% VAT! Now that's FAIR, and that will stimulate the heck out of this economy!

[teachone]

12:40 AM on 01/25/2012

Buffet and his secretary, along with the business CEO's have a central purpose/personal agenda, if you will, for getting in the "OBAMA/WHITEHOUSE LOOP", to gain insider information, to make connections, to get new clients, to get more power and control, to take all information back to "their kind" to use for their future benefit!!!!!! Republicans/Teapartiers do not associate with Democrats unless they have some kind of agenda and they NEVER turn their backs on each other, NEVER!!!! The president and first lady are naive in thinking otherwise and need to watch their backs and avoid them, they are gathering the very information they need to create further obstructions and bring the president, the people and this country down in the future, "once a dog, always a dog!"

[ConservativeChampion]

12:02 AM on 01/25/2012

Warren "The Crony Capitalist" Buffett is talking about how Liberal he is and yet his railroad will benefit greatly from obama turning down the Keystone Pipeline.

Go ahead and pay up Warren....

[sobaytransplant]

03:59 AM on 01/25/2012

What the heck does that have to do with him paying a higher tax rate? Do you just not understand the argument?

[dr659]

07:16 AM on 01/25/2012

If anyone ever did not understand the argument , It is you

[Dowtin King]

03:57 PM on 01/26/2012

Right on...lets make these rich bas#$%^s pay our bills it is societys right. we are all dealt the same hand in life no one is better than another. Please!!!

[lookskyward]

07:40 AM on 01/25/2012

How about if Warren shared all the information he's privy to because of his privileged view of what's going on
simply because he can buy companies lock stock and barrel?
Shared sacrifice, my foot. How about shared access to sweetheart arrangements?

[Spanky231]

11:14 PM on 01/24/2012

Buffet's secretary does pay more in taxes since all she has is ordinary income. Most of what Buffet gets taxed on is capital gains/losses on investments.

As for Job's wife, its interesting that Apple just had its best qtr and not one manufacturing job here in the US. Does anyone else see the irony here?

[sobaytransplant]

04:06 AM on 01/25/2012

It isn't about Job's wife or Warren Buffet - they are just examples. It's about the tax code. Buffet SHOULDN'T be paying a lower rate on capital gains than a wage earner pays from ordinary income. No one should. Jobs SHOULDN'T be going overseas and corporations being given tax breaks to do so. In fact, THAT was what the President was talking about tonight... reforms in our system so these things don't happen anymore.

[TIRM]

09:40 AM on 01/25/2012

You can't have it both ways. You cannot spur investment in order to create jobs by increasing taxes on those that would invest to begin with. Increasing capital gains taxes will only reduce investment in new companies. Why is it that the left has absolutely no clue about how the economy works?

[Ltc572805]

12:14 PM on 01/25/2012

I am both a wage earner and, from time to time, earn income through capital gains and dividends. I am by no means rich; I have never made of $100,000 in a year. The money I use to invest, like most other investors, has already been taxed as ordinary income. Why should I, or anyone else, who sacrificed current comsumption in hopes of earning a little extra money through investments have to be taxed again at a higher rate? What is my reward for taking the risk in investing? Also, the reason corporations are going overseas is because the US has higher corporate taxes than anywhere else in the world. The main reason Obama said what he said last night is, he could not point to his successes, so all he can do is appeal to the ignorance of people who don't know what they are talking about. Also, if Buffett's secretary pays twice as much in percentage terrms aqs he does, she must be very well paid. Do the math. She must be paid 6 figures. Why isn't her annual salary made public? I'd really like to know what it is.

[gomezrules]

12:41 AM on 01/25/2012

Buffett is one of the left's own! Why are you of the left so obsessed with race? You can't think of anything else!

[Veneita]

06:17 AM on 01/25/2012

I don't know. Why don't you ask newt and rick?

[not a fan of god]

08:21 AM on 01/25/2012

Wher does race come into play here ???? Why is ok for one person to pay less of a percentage then others? a flat tax is not the answer but niether is the current system. if a company moves jobs out of the country than it should lose all tax breaks PERIOD!!

[Veneita]

09:35 AM on 01/25/2012

I flat tax is not the answer either. Do you believe a person who makes $20 K a year (look at the domestic salaries mitt paid) can afford pay $2K in income taxes? Flat tax is like flat earth (neither of which makes sense).

[Political Dookie]

10:01 PM on 01/24/2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/warren-buffett-taxes-berkshire-hathaway_n_941099.html

Did she bring a check to cover Berkshire's taxes?

[optomist1]

08:45 PM on 01/24/2012

the Pooh Bear of Omaha has lost all credibility as the investor's investor....he should keep a low profile.

[budeliao]

08:34 PM on 01/24/2012

Given all this I think we should see his secretary's tax returns. My guess is she is not exactly "middle class" in terms of income.

[not a fan of god]

08:28 AM on 01/25/2012

@ sixty thousand a year for a secretary's job (not to deminish the job she does) but a miner in the north east makes a third less and is among the most dangerous in the country. Without the miners you have no roads,no septic systems, no construction of any kind and we are far from middle class.

[Peter007]

01:21 PM on 01/25/2012

Many executive secretaries make over $150,000. Some may make over $300,000.

I have a hard time seeing Buffets Secretary making $60,000.