Pelosi's push for jet remains up in air
By Rowan Scarborough and Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published February 7, 2007
The Bush administration has agreed to provide House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with regular access to an Air Force passenger jet, but the two sides are negotiating whether she will get the big aircraft she wants and who she may take as passengers, according to congressional and administration sources.
A congressional source said that Rep. John P. Murtha, chairman of House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, which controls the Pentagon's spending, has telephoned administration officials to urge them to give the speaker what she wants.
The congressional source said Pentagon officials complained that Mr. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, is accusing them of sexism for not immediately heeding her request.
Megan E. Grote, Mr. Murtha's press secretary, said, "Mr. Murtha absolutely never said anything about being 'sexist.' We have no further comment."
Meanwhile, Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida said Mrs. Pelosi's request represents "an arrogance of office that just defies common sense" and called it "a major deviation from the previous speaker."
Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri called it a "flying Lincoln Bedroom," and Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, labeled the speaker's plane "Pelosi One."
"This is a bullet point to a larger value -- Pelosi's abuse of power continues," Mr. McHenry said yesterday. "It began when the speaker denied minority rights to Republicans, continued with her 'TunaGate' scandal, and now she's exploiting America's armed forces and taxpayers for her own personal convenience."
"TunaGate" was a reference to Democrats exempting American Samoa from legislation to increase the minimum wage. Star-Kist Tuna, whose parent company Del Monte Corp. is based in Mrs. Pelosi's district, had lobbied against the wage increase.
An aide to Mrs. Pelosi, who is arguing she needs the jets for security reasons, yesterday referred questions to the Air Force, which is studying the California Democrat's request along with lawyers at the Pentagon and at the White House. "A lot of people are working this," an Air Force source said.
The congressional source said government lawyers are trying to reconcile Mrs. Pelosi's request with Defense Department policy and congressional travel rules.
The Washington Times first reported last week that Mrs. Pelosi's staff was pressing the administration for access to Air Force aircraft. Sources said the request went beyond what was offered to former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican.
Mr. Hastert used an Air Force commuter-type jet to travel to and from his district. Mr. Hastert gained the access for security reasons after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Previously, the House speaker, who is second in the line of succession to the presidency, used commercial flights for such trips.
Mrs. Pelosi wants a larger aircraft that can fly to her home district of San Francisco nonstop. She also wants to be able to ferry other members of the congressional delegation, family members and her staff.
The speaker's request is being handled by her chief counsel, Bernard Raimo, a veteran Democratic lawyer on Capitol Hill.
"Who she can take is being worked out, outside the Air Force," said Ed Gulick, an Air Force spokesman at the Pentagon.
He said the Air Force is studying what types of planes are available for long, cross-country flights. Currently, three planes assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base can make such nonstop flights year-round -- the C-32, C-40B and C-37.
Such VIP planes are in high demand.
"She's effectively taking a bird out of the fleet," said a defense source. "It will most directly impact the House, because they're the heavy users of the large aircraft. Congress looks at that Andrews fleet as their Hertz rent-a-car."
The congressional source said the speaker's office requested an Air Force plane to take her to a weekend Democratic retreat in Williamsburg, but the Pentagon declined.
The source said Mr. Hastert on one occasion used an Air Force plane for such an event. The Air Force later determined it was a mistake, and such flights were not repeated.
The source said the Pentagon will likely give in to Mrs. Pelosi's requests for a large plane and travel entourage, given her and Mr. Murtha's power over defense spending.
Mr. Raimo argues that Mrs. Pelosi needs a military aircraft, as opposed to commercial flights, for security reasons.
The defense source, who asked not to be named, termed her request "carte blanche," saying she wanted a plane that could carry an entourage just like President Bush, who flies on Air Force One, and Vice President Dick Cheney, who also always flies on military planes.
Mrs. Pelosi needs to get a life, she is an egotisical overbloated blowhard. I wish the Military would have enough balls to tell her no. Purse strings or not, the Democratic party would not cut off their nose to spite their face.....or maybe they would......
__________________ My Car WOO HOO...... Now SOLD
New car.... 2001 Jaguar XJR!!!!
Mrs. Pelosi needs to get a life, she is an egotisical overbloated blowhard. I wish the Military would have enough balls to tell her no. Purse strings or not, the Democratic party would not cut off their nose to spite their face.....or maybe they would......
Why stop there? Why not point out the egotistical overbloated blowhards we've had the pleasure of dealing with for the last 6-12 years??? Democrats are the only ones?
__________________
"--See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction."
- GW Bush, 10/2003
"The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history."
- Nancy Pelosi
__________________
McCain '08? - Ya know, Benedict Arnold was a "War Hero", Too.
Indeed. When your point of reference is the 12 year old Repug majority, saying "excuse me" after a smelly fart qualifies as "...the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history."
"The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history."
- Nancy Pelosi
While I don't happen to be in favor of Congress running up bills for government travel on Air Force planes, I fail to see how requesting such a service, openly, qualifies as an affront on the stated goals you reiterated above. Had this been done by exerting some kind of tit for tat, backroom arm twisting in the tradition of Tom Delay, well, that would be another story. But it wasn't. It may be a request that establishes a dangerous precedent, or it may be a request that is necessary based on ensuring the safety and well being of the present Speaker of the House specifically because of hate mail being sent her way by disgruntled right wingers. Who knows at this point? I don't, but I find the open request and open debate on the need for such services much more welcome than an after the fact revelation showing clear signs of corrupt influences having been exerted. Jim
Why stop there? Why not point out the egotistical overbloated blowhards we've had the pleasure of dealing with for the last 6-12 years??? Democrats are the only ones?
Because Im talking about a current situation at this moment and am commenting as such. And I dont see the need to have a "posse" surround her,much less to have family travel with her on government business nor to take a much needed plane out of the fleet to support her wants and "needs".
Much better to have proudly proclaimed elitism than concealed elitism.
I'd rather be shot with a golden bullet than shot with a lead bullet.
I got it!
Bot
I suppose you have it from Nancy herself that her request is based on "elitism" and has no other purpose, or are you staring at that crystal ball you tell the rest of us to stay away from? Jim
I suppose you have it from Nancy herself that her request is based on "elitism" and has no other purpose, or are you staring at that crystal ball you tell the rest of us to stay away from? Jim
This request, from a person in her position, is unprecedented. It seems 'unethical' to leverage one's newfound stature to obtain perks not normally associated to their position, as a form of entitlement no less - openly or otherwise. An ethical person would ensure they avoid bringing upon themselves the appearence of impropriety, and would certainly seek no privilege not offered them.
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