Posted on 08/07/2009 4:49:16 AM PDT by Zakeet
Congress plans to spend $550 million to buy eight jets, a substantial upgrade to the fleet used by federal officials at a time when lawmakers have criticized the use of corporate jets by companies receiving taxpayer funds.
The purchases will help accommodate growing travel demand by congressional officials. The planes augment a fleet of about two dozen passenger jets maintained by the Air Force for lawmakers, administration officials and military chiefs to fly on government trips in the U.S. and abroad.
The congressional shopping list goes beyond what the Air Force had initially requested as part of its annual appropriations. The Pentagon sought to buy one Gulfstream V and one business-class equivalent of a Boeing 737 to replace aging planes. The Defense Department also asked to buy two additional 737s that were being leased.
Lawmakers in the House last week added funds to buy those planes, and plus funds to buy an additional two 737s and two Gulfstream V planes. The purchases must still be approved by the Senate. The Air Force version of the Gulfstream V each costs $66 million, according to the Department of Defense, and the 737s cost about $70 million.
Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, said the Department of Defense didn't request the additional planes and doesn't need them. "We ask for what we need and only what we need," he told reporters Wednesday. "We've always frowned upon earmarks and additives that are above and beyond what we ask for."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
sonsab*tches....
these people are unbelieveable...most meetings can be
conducted in your office. these plains are purely for
campaigning and treks out of the country like Pelosi pulled
when she was getting grilled about the CIA.
Wake me up when this nightmare is over.
Congress to the American people....Do as we say, not as we do.
Congress’ mantra: Do As I Say, Not As I Do
I’m afraid you may sleep forever.
Congress flies its own separate fleet of jets, just as they get their own separate jet-set health care.
Do you know what the permanent face lift gets to ride a plane on your dime.
Good thing they are not from the Auto industry............
Please wake up NOW. The enemy is at the gate.
I’m not sure which angers me more, their entitlement attitude or their “in-your-face-peasant audacity.” Wouldn’t you think that right now, at least, they would have the smarts to lay low when it comes to the better things of life for them, paid for by us?
If we hope to have a country in the future we have GOT to find a way to turn these bastards out of office. To be clearer, I know we have the way, it’s the will we’ve got to find. Too many are slopping at the public trough and they vote for the candidate who offers to take the most from the RICH and pass along to them no strings attached. From the standpoint of cleaning house up there that’s the problem we face.
The window is closing fast, but there’s probably enough of ‘us’ to out vote the moochers but if we hope to do that we’re going to have to get every one of us to the polls.
Why so th..erious?"
The federal government is an oligarchy and conspiracy, just like John McCain, Barack Obama, (both Senators), and the Council on Foreign Relations.
“are purely for campaigning and treks out of the country...”
Mostly true. I don’t have any objection to our legislators having access to air transportation for official business. There are security and logistical concerns, that is a valid point on their part. The thing that gripes me is don’t we already have military aircraft that could do the job? Have you ever seen the cabin of a luxury jet? It beats the hell out of the Cessna 172 I just flew in. And that’s the point, it ain’t about security or logistics. It’s about status and the leather seats and the abuse of their office. All on our dime.-—JM
Oh for a minute I thought it said Auto Execs were buying Corporate Jets.
Pray for America
God forbid they get to bypass TSA, sit in First Class and be with us scum on commercial.
Which troops might that be? The real ones? Or the Congressional staffers?
They are the servants of the PEOPLE and to buy jets for themselves USING OUR MONEY when we can't afford it is more than irresponsible. It's more than bad judgment. It's more than stupid. It's an indication that they have CEASED to represent the people.
According to the article, they're busy planning their round-the-world junket and their three week tour of Europe.
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