Flying Miss Nancy

[Will B]

Interesting to note that just before the recess the aircraft order was bumped from 220 million to 550 million. That caught the eyes of representatives on both sides of the fence who are, now, speaking out against the order, and while some in Congress would argue that they would be purchased sooner or later even the Pentagon says that there is no need for an additional 8 aircraft at this time.

 

[Mango]

Apparently, the abuse is rampant on both sides of the political fence.

A Wall Street Journal analysis of congressional records found that foreign travel by members of Congress and aides was increasing. Last year, House members spent about 3,000 days overseas on taxpayer-funded trips, up from about 550 in 1995, according to the Journal's analysis.
Lawmakers disclosed they spent about $13 million traveling the world last year, a tenfold increase since 1995, when travel records first were made available electronically. The travel costs are covered by an unlimited fund created by a three-decade-old law.

This month, for example, 11 separate congressional delegations will swing through Germany. House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio is leading five other lawmakers on a trip around the world. Sen. Richard Shelby (R., Ala.) is taking a group of senators and their spouses to Europe for three weeks.
A spokesman for Mr. Boehner said he couldn't comment on the trip for security reasons. A spokeswoman for Mr. Shelby said the same. :roll:

Most travel must be approved by congressional committees. Once approved, the lawmaker who is leading a delegation can decide whether to fly on a commercial airline or to request a business jet from the Department of Defense. Lawmakers typically fly on military jets, where members of the Armed Services carry bags and take drink orders. When flying on military jets, lawmakers are permitted to bring along spouses at no cost.

When there are too many requests for military planes, the speaker of the House or the Senate majority leader decides who gets to go. Two House employees work full time to organize overseas trips.
There is often a shortage of military planes for use by lawmakers when Congress is in recess, according to emails from 2007 obtained by the conservative group Judicial Watch under a Freedom of Information Act Request.
In June 2007, the House's travel coordinator, Kay King, was told that all military planes were booked for the July 4 recess. She replied to the Air Force officer: "This is not good news, and we will have some very disappointed folks, as well as a very upset Speaker." :roll::roll:

Take a look at the top travel destinations... Kuwait-- ok, I can see that, ......but Germany, Austria and France?
Congress Gets an Upgrade - WSJ.com

 

[Here4Good]

I did find it interesting that it was a politico from Georgia who ordered up the additional two jets. Let me see...where is Gulfstream based? Hmmmm...oh, right. That would be Georgia!

"
Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) had submitted a request to the Appropriations Committee for a $70 million earmark for one airplane on behalf of Georgia-based Gulfstream, and Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) lists the airplane as one of the earmarks that he was asked to request, though his office said he never made the request to the Appropriations Committee.
?The committee saw fit to fund it at that level? without Kingston?s involvement, his spokesman said.


"



Yes, as much as I hate Pelosi and would like to pin this on her, this reeks of the F-22 appropriations, which was all about getting contracts for donors and jobs for constituents, regardless of the actual NEED for the item.



THIS is what is wrong with the budget process.

 

[Will B]

Looks like all the uproar has caused Congress to offer eliminating the order if the Pentagon agrees...

The new congressional jets may be getting scrapped.

After an uproar over a proposed purchase of new executive jets for use by senior government officials, including members of Congress, the top Defense appropriator in the House has offered to eliminate funding for the planes ? but only if the Pentagon, which operates the jets, agrees.

Read more: Congressional jets may be scrapped - John Bresnahan - POLITICO.com

Being one who operates in the air line industry and who is also a pilot, I found it interesting to read that these are replacements for older G-V's and 737's that have "both safety and maintenance issues." I can't speak to the saftey remark, but I would have to surmise that "maintenace issues" probably refer to higher time 737's that are due a heavy maintenace visit which is basically a complete overhaul. Yeah...it's expensive, but it's less than a new airplane, and it comes close to zero timing the aircraft. Delta has a contract to maintain the 737 BBJ aircraft for the 89th Airlift Wing. Those aircraft are babied, and are in pristine condition. There's no reason that they can't continue to fly the current ones for years.

My take is that by invoking the "saftey and maintenace issues" statement it plays a bit into the hands of those who do not understand aircraft maintenance and would fear some catestrophic event if they were not unloaded. Of course, that's just my opinion...

 

[Andy A]

My take is that by invoking the "saftey and maintenace issues" statement it plays a bit into the hands of those who do not understand aircraft maintenance and would fear some catestrophic event if they were not unloaded. Of course, that's just my opinion...

One with which I entirely agree.