Tonight while at the Colony gym I spotted a newsclip on CNN but didn't see the entire clip. Anyway, it appeared that Lou Dobbs was having a rant about Congress's purchase of 200 million dollars of private jet(s).... citing the hypocracy after they lambasted the big 3 auto ceo's for private jets. So, is our Congress really this stupid or is there more to this story?

Originally Posted by rshoffer

Tonight while at the Colony gym I spotted a newsclip on CNN but didn't see the entire clip. Anyway, it appeared that Lou Dobbs was having a rant about Congress's purchase of 200 million dollars of private jet(s).... citing the hypocracy after they lambasted the big 3 auto ceo's for private jets. So, is our Congress really this stupid or is there more to this story?

Maybe you missed it but read my thread about 7 threads down about the elite Jets.
http://www.rollcall.com/media/37552-1.html

Originally Posted by rshoffer

Tonight while at the Colony gym I spotted a newsclip on CNN but didn't see the entire clip. Anyway, it appeared that Lou Dobbs was having a rant about Congress's purchase of 200 million dollars of private jet(s).... citing the hypocracy after they lambasted the big 3 auto ceo's for private jets. So, is our Congress really this stupid or is there more to this story?

"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."

http://www.rollcall.com/media/37552-1.html

just another orchestration

btk

Yes they are that stupid. PLEASE everyone, remember this come November 2010. Not a single incumbent should be allowed to return.

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Yes they are that stupid. PLEASE everyone, remember this come November 2010. Not a single incumbent should be allowed to return.

Well, at least they'll get to fly home for the campaigning (excuse me, "fact-finding missions") in relative comfort. http://www.gulfstream.com/products/g550/

I really don't have too much of a problem with acquiring these aircraft, but a long-term "dry lease" would have been a better deal as they won't have too much "unique" in their configuration, and the USAF isn't going to handle most of the maintenance anyway. In it's current situation, the sales commissions for these aircraft are a lot more money in somebody's pocket than a lease commission would have been - - Follow the money and see who gets the end reward!

FYI, Gulfstream's corporate headquarters are in Savannah, GA. Congressman John Barrow, a third-term Democrat and Blue Dog Coalition member is the representative for the Savannah area. That's bringing home the pork, John, just when the Blue Dogs need to be swayed.

I would have hoped my doggie mates would have made a stink about this. But then again, they get to ride.