In today’s Wall Street Journal, Opposition Emerges to House’s Jet Spree
Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials.The resistance to buying eight Gulfstream and Boeing planes comes as members of both chambers of Congress embark on the busiest month of the year for official overseas travel. The plan to upgrade the fleet of government jets, which was included in a broader defense-funding bill, has also sparked criticism from the Pentagon, which has said it doesn’t need half of the new jets.
…
The Obama administration had sought $220 million to buy four passenger jets, including two that are currently being leased by the Air Force, to replace a fleet of older planes. Before leaving town for the August break, House lawmakers doubled the aircraft order to eight, at a total cost of $550 million.
Remember the outrage when the Big Three auto CEOs flew private jets to ask for taxpayer money?
Your elected official in Congress must fly in style. Public opinion be damned.
Never mind that federal spending and deficits have surged to astronomical numbers, and that cap and trade tax and Obamacare will make current spending look modest by comparison. Never mind that the cash-for-clunkers throws away assets that could be put to use, all in the name of better mileage.
Never mind that the Pentagon points out that upgrading the fleet of government jets takes money from things we do need to fund and redirect it for things we don’t need. Congress must insist in traveling style, to the tune of half a billion dollars.
And, don’t forget, members of Congress won’t sign up for Obamacare because they have better options.
What’s next, a Congressional version of cash for clunkers?
August 10th, 2009 at 9:18 am
[...] latest post, The Congressional Jets Purchase, Grounded? is up at RightPundits. Please read it and leave a [...]
August 10th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I love the fact that the Congressional leaders are pushing for this even as the Pentagon says they don’t want the planes. Ladies and gentlemen, your government in action.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Why buy four when you can buy eight for more than twice the cost. Not everyone can afford this sort of logic, but hey, it’s not their money.
It’s dishonest and hypocritical, and unfortunately such a small percentage of the problem.
August 10th, 2009 at 11:32 am
They don’t want to mix with the citizens. We’re an angry mod, don’t ya know.
They want:
1. The convenience of private flight
2. To avoid having to deal with the ‘public’ (what used to be known as the voters).
August 10th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
the elitists in congress enjoy their perks and will legislate more for themselves
hypocracy in action
August 11th, 2009 at 6:10 am
[...] Yesterday I was wondering if Congress was going to scrap the purchase of half a billion dollars’ worth of jets for congressional use. [...]