I Want 20% Less Spending on Swag: Obama

If you happen to be sipping from a promotional coffee cup bestowed on you by a federal agency, hang on to it: You might not be getting a new one anytime soon. As part of his "We Can't Wait" campaign, President Obama will today announce his latest effort: slashing waste. The president will sign an executive order tasking federal agencies with reducing spending by 20% in five areas that have been identified by a Joe Biden-helmed task force as particularly fatty: travel, technology, printing, autos, and swag. USA Today and Politico dig into the nitty gritty:

• Travel: The upside: fewer TSA-induced headaches, as federal agencies will be urged to turn to teleconferences and videoconferences whenever possible.
• Technology: Employees will be asked to streamline the number of smartphones, laptops, and/or tablets they cart around.
• Printing: If it can be posted online ... post it online.
• Autos: The government spends $9 million annually to ferry itself around DC. The numbers of cars will be reduced, and each senior official will get just one driver.
• Swag: Say ta-ta to some "non-essential items used for promotional purposes," including clothing, plaques, pens, and mugs.

Click to read about another part of Obama's We Can't Wait campaign.