Bill Clinton cashes in on struggling nonprofit hospital -- Gets $225,000 in speaking fees as workers laid off -- By Jim McElhatton, The Washington Times

Bill Clinton accepted a $225,000 speaking fee from the nonprofit Washington Hospital Center smack in the middle of two big rounds of layoffs in 2012 — one of a number of tax-exempt organizations that have paid big money to hear the former president talk.

The $225,000 payment wasn't made public by the hospital on its annual Internal Revenue Service forms, but rather appeared among dozens of lucrative speeches by Mr. Clinton reported on his wife's final ethics filing as secretary of state.

"No disrespect to Bill Clinton, but that money could've gone a long way and been put to better use," said Dan Fields Jr., president of the Service Employees International Union Local 722 representing hospital workers.

"Our contract expires on June 30, and I'm pretty sure they're going to come to the table and talk about how they're losing money, so this concerns me greatly."

Analysts say it's not unusual for nonprofit organizations to hire big-name celebrities for conferences or fundraising efforts, but the fees are rarely disclosed in the annual IRS filings where organizations provide detailed reports on their profits, losses, executive salaries and other expenditures.

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