Why is HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt using a jet meant for use in emergencies for his private jet?

Question

A jet leased by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for use in emergencies has instead been used to shuttle the secretary of Health and Human Services to appearances and meetings, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt's use of the plane has cost more than $700,000 since January.

The newspaper analyzed the Gulfstream III's flight log and found that the 14-seat aircraft has been used primarily by Leavitt to attend news conferences promoting the new Medicare prescription drug plan and meetings with state officials over their flu pandemic plans.

Since January, Leavitt has taken the jet on 19 trips to visit more than 90 cities, his spokeswoman told the newspaper. During the same period, CDC officials said they had used the aircraft to respond to three emergencies and conduct three training exercises.

The Journal-Constitution reported that during two emergencies, the CDC was forced to use another plane because Leavitt was using the Gulfstream.

So far in 2006, the aircraft has cost taxpayers $2.1 million, with at least $720,000 of that spent on flight hours used by Leavitt, according to CDC and HHS officials.

WHY IS LEAVITT USING A JET MEANT FOR EMERGENCIES FOR HIS MEETINGS, ETC?
TYPICAL REPUBLICAN...SPENDING TAXPAYERS MONEY ON PERSONAL COMFORTS!

Answer 1

Because they are all incompetent

Answer 2

Hey rocket scientist, "personal comforts"? You spent your whole rant describing that he has used the GIII for things directly related to his position, not trips to golf in Hawaii. Furthermore, the CDC is part of his department, so it's all from the same budget. What's the DIFFERENCE?? Secondly, the jet is leased and it costs something to keep in on standby, so if he used a jet already being paid to be on standby, he probably ended up SAVING money in the end. And in the two instances you cite where the CDC had to lease another jet for "emergencies" (I don't know what kind of emergencies the CDC has), if you're already a member of the fractional jet program, it isn't any big deal to get another plane. They have one to you in hours. Perfect example, Tiger Woods. He flies so much one crew can't keep up with him so at any given time he "owns" 2 or 3 jets so that he can always have one at the ready.

Answer 3

Do you ask whether corprate jets, who expenses are written off taxes by companies, which we pay for, are used for business.

Many aren't and a lot take trips to places like Bermuda, Hilton Head, Hawaii, and on and on.

Why don't you try going after some of the corporate crooks for a change? That would be a novelty.

Try taking some of those 750 BMW's while you are at it!

Don't forget the Condoo's!!

Answer 4

Seems to me Sununu did a similar thing in a prev. administration (Reagan?).

Typical of this government-- they're all above the law, policies and principles of honor and decency.