Q&A: Obama's presidency in transition

— -- Q: How is President-elect Barack Obama paying his expenses and the cost of his transition?

A: Obama is no longer drawing a salary, because he officially resigned from the Senate on Sunday. He won't get a paycheck until after he's sworn in Jan. 20.

Then he'll get, in effect, a raise. The salary for most rank-and-file senators this year is $169,300; as president, Obama will earn $400,000, a salary set by Congress in 2000.

Obama does get to keep his Senate-provided health care until the end of December. Then, he'll pay out of pocket to stay on the Senate plan under COBRA, the 1986 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. That law provides temporary health insurance coverage.

Obama made about $4 million last year off sales from his two books, according to tax records released by his campaign earlier this year. Both books shot up in the rankings after Obama won the presidential race.

In the White House, Obama and his wife, Michelle, will have to pay for private meals with family and friends and for personal services such as dry cleaning.

For the transition, Obama will receive taxpayer funds to help pay for some of the costs. About $5 million in public money will be available for office space, equipment and other expenses, under the 1963 law covering presidential transitions. Obama wants to raise another $6.7 million to pay for costs, such as moving expenses, that must be privately funded.

By Traci Watson and David Jackson