Ind. Guard leader approves rides in F-16 for Democratic donors

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INDIANAPOLIS - The leader of the Indiana National Guard has approved F-16 fighter jet flights for several Democratic contributors or activists since Gov. Frank O'Bannon tapped him for the post.

The Indianapolis Star reported Sunday that in the 21 months since O'Bannon, a Democrat, appointed Maj. Gen. George A. Buskirk Jr., he has allowed 11 civilian flights - most of them for major Democratic contributors or activists.

By contrast, only about half the number of Indiana civilians flew in nearly twice the time under Buskirk's predecessor. And only two of them had donated to Democrats.

Buskirk told the Star there was no connection between donations and the flights on the $21.2 million jet. "I don't try to figure out who's a Republican and who's a Democrat in these things," he said.

Each hourlong flight of the state's only two-seat F-16 - an aircraft that can reach twice the speed of sound - costs $3,559 and serves as pilot training. Civilians ride in the jet's back seat.

Julia Vaughn, policy director for the citizens group Common Cause/Indiana, told the Star it is "curious" that many of the flights were offered to Democratic donors.

"It would seem to be a bit one-sided," Vaughn said. "It just seems like another of those perks that those active in the campaign arena get." ....

Strange. I just finished reading about this same phenomenon occuring in Indiana in the Washington Post Inside Politics column.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/inpolitics.htm

High-flying donors
Donors who have given a combined total of almost $240,000 to Democrats have accounted for the majority of civilian flights in the Indiana National Guard's F-16 fighter plane.
"In his 21 months as the leader of the Indiana National Guard, Maj. Gen. George A. Buskirk Jr. has approved 11 flights for Hoosier civilians on an F-16 fighter jet — most to major Democratic contributors or activists," the Indianapolis Star reports.
Gen. Buskirk, who has contributed nearly $140,000 to Democrats since 1997, was appointed commander of the Guard by Democratic Gov. Frank L. O'Bannon in November 2001. As Indiana's adjutant general, Gen. Buskirk receives a state salary of more than $99,000 a year.
Gen. Buskirk signs off on the hourlong rides in the back seat of the state's only two-seat F-16, a supersonic fighter.
"Since 1997, nine of the 11 riders approved by Buskirk have given Democrats $237,557," the Star reported.
"Buskirk said there was no connection between donations and the flights on the $21.2 million jet. The flights cost $3,559 each and serve as training for the pilot.
"I think that's up to the general to pick those people," Mr. O'Bannon told the Star. "As far as the party or my campaign, I know nothing that anything was focused, or that was part of anything to promote the Democratic Party."
But Julia Vaughn, policy director for the citizens group Common Cause/Indiana, said it was "curious" that many of the flights were offered to Democratic donors.
"It would seem to be a bit one-sided," Miss Vaughn said. "It just seems like another of those perks that those active in the campaign arena get."

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