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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: Soul Crusher on August 05, 2009, 07:22:07 AM
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House Orders Up Three Elite Jets
www.rollcall.com
Last year, lawmakers excoriated the CEOs of the Big Three automakers for traveling to Washington, D.C., by private jet to attend a hearing about a possible bailout of their companies.
But apparently Congress is not philosophically averse to private air travel: At the end of July, the House approved nearly $200 million for the Air Force to buy three elite Gulfstream jets for ferrying top government officials and Members of Congress.
The Air Force had asked for one Gulfstream 550 jet (price tag: about $65 million) as part of an ongoing upgrade of its passenger air service.
But the House Appropriations Committee, at its own initiative, added to the 2010 Defense appropriations bill another $132 million for two more airplanes and specified that they be assigned to the D.C.-area units that carry Members of Congress, military brass and top government officials.
Because the Appropriations Committee viewed the additional aircraft as an expansion of an existing Defense Department program, it did not treat the money for two more planes as an earmark, and the legislation does not disclose which Member had requested the additional money.
An Appropriations Committee staffer said the military was already planning to replace its passenger fleet, and the committee “looked at the request and decided they should speed up the replacement.”
The Gulfstream G550 is a luxury business jet, which the company advertises as featuring long-range flight capacity that “easily links Washington, D.C., with Dubai, London with Singapore and Tokyo with Paris.” The company’s promotional materials say, “The cabin aboard the G550 combines productivity with exceptional comfort. It features up to four distinct living areas, three temperature zones, a choice of 12 floor plan configurations with seating for up to 18 passengers.”
The version Gulfstream sells to the military is reconfigured for the government with modest accommodations, not the luxury version sold to private customers, said a source familiar with the planes.
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.
Bishop’s office did not return several calls requesting comment for this story.
Air Force spokesman Vincent King told Roll Call: “This line item provides funding to purchase C-37 aircraft. The C-37 is the military variant of the commercial Gulfstream 550 executive jet. C-37s provide executive airlift for senior U.S. government officials including Congress and combatant commanders.”
The language of the appropriations bill specifies that of the three aircraft, the Air Force will provide “one aircraft each for the 201st Airlift Squadron and the 89th Airlift Wing.” Both are based out of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
The 89th Airlift Wing provides “global Special Air Mission (SAM) airlift, logistics, aerial port and communications for the President, Vice President, Combat Commanders, senior leaders and the global mobility system,” according to the Andrews Web site.
King told Roll Call, “the 201st Airlift Squadron provides short-notice worldwide transportation for the executive branch, Congressional Members, Department of Defense officials and high-ranking U.S. and foreign dignitaries.”
An Armed Forces Press Service news story from 2004 said that the 201st counted “U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert [R-Ill.] and [then-Senate Armed Services Chairman] John Warner [R-Va.] among its frequent flyers.”
Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said if Congress wants to buy new jets for the comfort of top government officials, “I think that all needs to be justified on the merits. ... Certainly, lawmakers can fly — and many do fly — coach and business class.” While there may be reasons for flying on top-notch private jets, “it shouldn’t just be squeezed into the bill.”
Ellis said the airplanes are also part of a larger trend for the Appropriations Committee to simply decide that big-ticket items are program increases, not earmarks, so they require less public disclosure.
“The more that you push for transparency, the more of this stuff goes underneath the carpet,” Ellis said. While Congress has established new rules requiring greater transparency for earmarks, the Appropriations Committee is “the judge, jury and executioner over what is an earmark and what isn’t and how much information we get.”
But military analysts said the private jets, despite the high price tag, may be worth the money because of the security and efficiency they provide to high-ranking public officials.
Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the conservative Lexington Institute, said, “In the case of the VIP transport for the executive branch, you can easily explain the cost [of private travel] in terms of the risk of somebody being taken hostage or having their time wasted when a critical decision is pending.”
Thompson pointed out that the cost of the plane would be peanuts compared to the cost to the nation if a top official were taken hostage or harmed taking a commercial flight to a dangerous region of the world.
But Thompson also said that logic “applies to the top members of the executive branch more than it applies to the Member from the 13th district of Illinois.”
John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, a defense information Web site, said military officials “need a long-range airplane — and [it’s] better to fly them on a small one than a big one.”
Pike said it is unreasonable to expect a three-star general and a staff of five people to attend meetings around the world with several stops in far-flung locales while traveling on commercial airlines.
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And you idiots think the Dems care about the taxpayer???
The funniest line was this:
“In the case of the VIP transport for the executive branch, you can easily explain the cost [of private travel] in terms of the risk of somebody being taken hostage or having their time wasted when a critical decision is pending.”
These idiots dont even read the bills they vote on.
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You don't expect her and her uber lib friends to ride to DC with the peasantry, do you?
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The Air Force requested a jet. Since when are you two clowns so averse to military spending?
I betcha you'd be all for it, if it came decked out with a gun turret that shoots illegals from 30,000 ft. huh?
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You might want to re-think those words.
The Secret Service takes a rather broad interpretation and dim view of threats to the lives of public officials. :-X
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If the Military thinks it's a smart move... What's wrong with it?
You're calling our service men and women fools and morons?
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If the Military thinks it's a smart move... What's wrong with it?
You're calling our service men and women fools and morons?
Are you a mongoloid? Did you read the article? The military wanted one, congress wanted 2 more.
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If the Military thinks it's a smart move... What's wrong with it?
You're calling our service men and women fools and morons?
They already have a private jet. I thought in a time of finan cial crisis people should not be flying around on private jets. At least thats what Pelosi told the auto CEO's .
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Are you a mongoloid? Did you read the article? The military wanted one, congress wanted 2 more.
Did you even read the entire article? Talk about a Mongoloid.
Straight from the first post.
But military analysts said the private jets, despite the high price tag, may be worth the money because of the security and efficiency they provide to high-ranking public officials.
Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the conservative Lexington Institute, said, “In the case of the VIP transport for the executive branch, you can easily explain the cost [of private travel] in terms of the risk of somebody being taken hostage or having their time wasted when a critical decision is pending.”
Thompson pointed out that the cost of the plane would be peanuts compared to the cost to the nation if a top official were taken hostage or harmed taking a commercial flight to a dangerous region of the world.
But Thompson also said that logic “applies to the top members of the executive branch more than it applies to the Member from the 13th district of Illinois.”
:-*
Yeah, she's not the President or VP... but she's pretty high up on the pecking order.
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How does she get around now?
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They already have a private jet. I thought in a time of finan cial crisis people should not be flying around on private jets. At least thats what Pelosi told the auto CEO's .
I'm not saying I agree with it 100 percent... but you can definitely make an argument that it's worthwhile.
I'm on the fence really... I don't like the idea of spending that kind of money, but at the same time, the fact is, it's much more secure.
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How does she get around now?
Not sure, but it's not just for her... It's congress, top Military, and government officials... It's not Pelosi's personal aircraft as some people are making it out to be.
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It actually was a republican and democrat who put this bill forward 333. Get it right. They both support the Gulfstream company (both have been given more than 10K in contributions) which has a HQ in Georgia and wants some return on their 'investment'. This is how american politics have always worked and it's yet to pass the senate, it's only passed the house vote thus far.
So really 333 stop with the bullsh*t it's a repub and democrat created bill to pay back a company that supported them. Not a pelosi doing. Quit the mistakes already.
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It actually was a republican and democrat who put this bill forward 333. Get it right. They both support the Gulfstream company (both have been given more than 10K in contributions) which has a HQ in Georgia and wants some return on their 'investment'. This is how american politics have always worked and it's yet to pass the senate, it's only passed the house vote thus far.
So really 333 stop with the bullsh*t it's a repub and democrat created bill to pay back a company that supported them. Not a pelosi doing. Quit the mistakes already.
333 thinks that everything done in the house is Pelosi's doing... There are apparently no other people in congress.
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It actually was a republican and democrat who put this bill forward 333. Get it right. They both support the Gulfstream company (both have been given more than 10K in contributions) which has a HQ in Georgia and wants some return on their 'investment'. This is how american politics have always worked and it's yet to pass the senate, it's only passed the house vote thus far.
So really 333 stop with the bullsh*t it's a repub and democrat created bill to pay back a company that supported them. Not a pelosi doing. Quit the mistakes already.
Nothing comes to a vote or the floor without her approval you dunce.
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333 thinks that everything done in the house is Pelosi's doing... There are apparently no other people in congress.
Exactly. He's so far away from knowing what is going on it's not funny. He just thinks in Fox approved soundbites. "Marxist" "Obama" "pelosi" "revolt" "Palin 2012" etc etc
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Nothing comes to a vote or the floor without her approval you dunce.
So your point is? Does she also force people to vote on it? Get it right 333 you're acting like she does everything but wipe their arses.
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Nothing comes to a vote or the floor without her approval you dunce.
Actually, that's not how congress works.
The speaker determines which bills go to which committees... That's her job.
She makes sure it goes to the right people to discuss. They also determine the calendar date for vote.
She can decide, but a vote can also come to the floor by a discharge petition... She doesn't have some ultimate power as you're making it out.
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Exactly. He's so far away from knowing what is going on it's not funny. He just thinks in Fox approved soundbites. "Marxist" "Obama" "pelosi" "revolt" "Palin 2012" etc etc
Nothing happens without her approval you fool.
Wait till 2010. 1994 is going to look like nothing.
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Actually, that's not how congress works.
The speaker determines which bills go to which committees... That's her job.
She makes sure it goes to the right people to discuss. They also determine the calendar date for vote.
She can decide, but a vote can also come to the floor by a discharge petition... She doesn't have some ultimate power as you're making it out.
Not according to 333. She is the only person who does anything and she decides all!
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Actually, that's not how congress works.
The speaker determines which bills go to which committees... That's her job.
She makes sure it goes to the right people to discuss. They also determine the calendar date for vote.
She can decide, but a vote can also come to the floor by a discharge petition... She doesn't have some ultimate power as you're making it out.
Come on TU - you are not one the nut jobs.
You and I both know if Pelosi wants something, she gets it regardless.
Just look at Cap & trade and how that thing went down.
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Come on TU - you are not one the nut jobs.
You and I both know if Pelosi wants something, she gets it regardless.
Just look at Cap & trade and how that thing went down.
What about the Georgian constituents who wanted this. Why not blame them for voting in guys who introduced the bill in the first place?
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What about the Georgian constituents who wanted this. Why not blame them for voting in guys who introduced the bill in the first place?
Hysterical. No one other than Goldman Sachs, Al Gore, Obama, GE, and the other Wall Street crooks want this scam.
Spain tried it and it failed.
Germany has 20% higher electric rates.
England has higher energy taxes.
Only a complete imbecile like yourself wants Americans to pay higher energy taxes while China, India, Russia, et al laugh their asses off at us.
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The Air Force requested a jet. Since when are you two clowns so averse to military spending?
I betcha you'd be all for it, if it came decked out with a gun turret that shoots illegals from 30,000 ft. huh?
:o They have those?!?
Hell yea!!
Lets order 200 of them ASAP!
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Hysterical. No one other than Goldman Sachs, Al Gore, Obama, GE, and the other Wall Street crooks want this scam.
Spain tried it and it failed.
Germany has 20% higher electric rates.
England has higher energy taxes.
Only a complete imbecile like yourself wants Americans to pay higher energy taxes while China, India, Russia, et al laugh their asses off at us.
What does that have to do with the bill which includes Gulfstream Jets for Congress? Which was introduced by two Georgian State representatives
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Hysterical. No one other than Goldman Sachs, Al Gore, Obama, GE, and the other Wall Street crooks want this scam.
Spain tried it and it failed.
Germany has 20% higher electric rates.
England has higher energy taxes.
Only a complete imbecile like yourself wants Americans to pay higher energy taxes while China, India, Russia, et al laugh their asses off at us.
You go from private jets to Cap n' Trade? You're really grasping! Can't you stay on topic for once?
Sheesh Dude, ...it's your own thread and you can't even keep on point. I'm embarassed for you. :-[
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You go from private jets to Cap n' Trade? You're really grasping! Can't you stay on topic for once?
Sheesh Dude, ...it's your own thread and you can't even keep on point. I'm embarassed for you. :-[
He brought it up Cap & Trade as well.
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He brought it up Cap & Trade as well.
Ah no i didn't. You assumed i was commenting on that but alas you were wrong, again. Of course. It's really not surprising though. Just another Fox approved sound bite thrown in there "cap & Trade" etc etc
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You go from private jets to Cap n' Trade? You're really grasping! Can't you stay on topic for once?
Sheesh Dude, ...it's your own thread and you can't even keep on point. I'm embarassed for you. :-[
The point was the whatever that nasty bitch wants rammed through the congress, she will get. I brought up cap & trade as an example of that.
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The point was the whatever that nasty bitch wants rammed through the congress, she will get. I brought up cap & trade as an example of that.
"Nasty Bitch" ?! Lovely! What did she do to earn that designation, ...pee in your corn flakes? ...eat a dog turd?
...or is that simply your "go to" insult for those with ovaries who disagree with you politically?
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"Nasty Bitch" ?! Lovely! What did she do to earn that designation, ...pee in your corn flakes? ...eat a dog turd?
...or is that simply your "go to" insult for those with ovaries who disagree with you politically?
She called anyone against TARP "unpatriotic."
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Military gets one plane to fly around their peeps....check
All they have to do is get Congress to approve it...heres the little bump in the road
Congress wants two plans for themselves....Sounds like a super tough decision
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She called anyone against TARP "unpatriotic."
And Bush said the same about anyone against the Iraq war idiot. Yet you would never use such strong language against him because you are a coward who would rathr bash a woman than a man for fear of repercussions.
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And Bush said the same about anyone against the Iraq war idiot. Yet you would never use such strong language against him because you are a coward who would rathr bash a woman than a man for fear of repercussions.
Dude - show up at the corner of Webster and 233rd in the Bronx anytime and we will see whats what. Anytime.
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And Bush said the same about anyone against the Iraq war idiot. Yet you would never use such strong language against him because you are a coward who would rathr bash a woman than a man for fear of repercussions.
Show me where he said that. Once.
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Show me where he said that. Once.
His infamous "You're either with us or against us" line off the top of my head.
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...which was not directed in any way shape or form toward the American people. It was directed to fench sitters and those who harbored terrorists, among the international community. Chief among them was folks in Africa and N.Africa such as Libya. Kadafi took the message to heart.
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His infamous "You're either with us or against us" line off the top of my head.
That was to the countries harboring and ignoring terrorists jerkoff.
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That was to the countries harboring and ignoring terrorists jerkoff.
Everyone except Saudi Arabia. ::)
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They produce oil....ur point is.
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And Bush said the same about anyone against the Iraq war idiot. Yet you would never use such strong language against him because you are a coward who would rathr bash a woman than a man for fear of repercussions.
AMEN!!!!!!!
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Fuuck off freeloader!
I was hoping you could make it 5 posts without referring to him in some derogatory way...
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Everyone except Saudi Arabia. ::)
I dont disagree with that. However, Bush said with us or against us after 9/11, not during the iraq war, as KYballsack tried to say.