It looks like the Congressional Dems will have to curtail their spending of our tax dollars for world travel on brand new jets. Even some of the Dems are complaining about this one (which is rare as much as they like to tax, print, and spend dollars...always what happens when you hand the keys to Congress to the Dems); this is an excerpt from the WSJ, all emphasis is my own:
AUGUST 10, 2009
Opposition Emerges to House's Jet Spree
By BRODY MULLINS and T.W. FARNAM
WASHINGTON -- Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials.
The resistance to buying eight Gulfstream and Boeing planes comes as members of both chambers of Congress embark on the busiest month of the year for official overseas travel. The plan to upgrade the fleet of government jets, which was included in a broader defense-funding bill, has also sparked criticism from the Pentagon, which has said it doesn't need half of the new jets.
"The whole thing kind of makes me sick to my stomach," said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) in an interview Sunday. "It is evidence that some of the cynicism about Washington is well placed -- that people get out of touch and they spend money like it's Monopoly money."
Several other senators said they share the concerns and will work to oppose the funding for the jets when the legislation is taken up by the Senate in September, including Sens. John McCain (R., Ariz.,) Jack Reed (D., R.I.), Richard Burr (R., N.C.), Christopher Bond (R., Mo.) and John Thune (R., S.D.).
The funding for new planes is "a classic example of Congress being out of touch with the realities of deficit spending," said Mr. Thune.
The Obama administration had sought $220 million to buy four passenger jets
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Full story:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124986067095218079.html
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