[Non-Sequitur]

I think the whole thing has been ridiculous from the beginning. There should never have been passed a law stating that the Speaker should have military transport for security reasons. The President deserves it. The Vice President deserves it. Nobody else in the line of succession needs it. They don't get Secret Security protection, why the need for a miltiary plane? And if the second in line of succession needs a plane for security reasons then why not the third in line? And the fouth? And the 10th? Congress should repeal this stupid idea.

[68skylark]

I think the whole thing has been ridiculous from the beginning.... Congress should repeal this stupid idea.

I don't have a problem with this. Lots of VIP's fly on military aircraft -- from the first lady to high-ranking military leaders. The speaker of the house needs to have good communications with Washington at all times, so it makes sense to travel on military planes. It was only when she requested a 757 that I thought she went too far.

[El Gato]

There should never have been passed a law stating that the Speaker should have military transport for security reasons.

There is no such "law". Just regulations of the 89th Airlift wing, which reflect DoD and White House policy. The C-20 and C-37 (along with C-9s) are operated by the 99th Airlift Squadron