Is it true that politicians fly in private jets?

Question

Is it true that the politicians who advise us on not driving SUVs and changing our life styles because of the global warming are flying in private planes that burn more fuel than you could drive an Hummer H1 for a full year? And that every time they fly in their private jets, it costs us, the tax payers, $300,000?

Answer 1

Yes, not all but a lot of them. And, remember when the repubs were all over Kerry about the big suv he was driving, well turns out that Bush had 2 large Ford suv's that he drove out there on his Texas spread and no one said much of anything. I guess all's fair in love and war. Oh, and don't forget, us tax payers are footing the fuel bill for all of them, jets and suv's, dems and repubs.

Answer 2

The $300,000 figure is WAY out of wack -- at most it's $20,000. And this particular flight you're mentioning is Rep. Pelosi's flight back to California. The Sergeant at arms of the House demands that the Air Force provide secure transportation for the Speaker of the House when they travel (Hastert had this) since she's No. 2 in line for presidency. Pelosi said "I'm flying commercial unless you get me a nonstop flight to California." The only Air Force plane that can do that is one that's fairly large.

Other politicians are flying on planes to campaign -- realize that most of them still have real jobs (in Congress or as a governor) so they have to shuttle from one destination to another during the campaign. Plus, you have media people following them (Obama already has something like 50 people assigned to him to follow him around in the campaign). I imagine a lot of candidates use commercial airliners, but others do have "private" planes that the taxpayers are NOT paying for (except, of course, when the president campaigns and takes Air Force One anywhere... a huge 747).

(P.S. Jet engines are much more efficient, and when traveling in a group long distances, it's more environmentally sound to take a plane than a gas guzzling SUV...
See this link re: climate change and air travel:
http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/airtravel.htm)

Answer 3

Some of them do. Most of them are not paid for by the taxpayers. It sounds to me that you are referring to reports the Nancy Pelosi has requested use of a military plane that is equivalent to a 757. My understanding is that she has been offered the smaller plane that was used by the last Speaker of the House. The justification for the Speaker to fly on military aircraft is that they are next in line if the President and Vice President both die or are unable to serve.

Answer 4

Actually, they don't use *private* jets. They use publically funded jets, whether hired from a private rental agency or from some pool maintained by the state and other agencies (military etc) on tax money.

Answer 5

Ask Nancy Pelosi and Al Gore.

http://www.conservativeworld.us/

Answer 6

Any one with bundles of money fly in private jets. and government people, we flip the bill.

Answer 7

Yes

When the President flies it is called Airforce One

When the Vice President flies it is called Airforce Two

When the Pope flies it is called Shepherd One

When Nancy Pelosi flies it is called Broom Stick One

Answer 8

I hate pelosi but in this case security overrides. It is not like they are in plush surroundings and its not like she got a new jet.

Answer 9

Yes, how else would they have the time and privacy to have sex with unpaid interns.

Answer 10

And if US taxpayers aren't paying for it the scumbag lobbyists are.