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Originally Posted by RACER X
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/20...ferry-congress
$332 Million For New Luxury Jets To Ferry Congress
Last Updated: Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:54pm
Although lawmakers repeatedly chastised the private jet travel of government-bailed auto executives, the nation's so-called public servants have covertly allocated hundreds of millions of public dollars to buy fancy new airplanes to ferry them around the globe.
The three Gulfstream 550 jets—each costing about $65 million—will be purchased with a $332 million allotment that Congress conveniently slipped into a defense bill. Passed in the House last month, the measure originally included nearly $200 million for one executive jet but the House Appropriations Committee added an additional $132 million for two more, according to the Capitol Hill paper that broke the story this week.
The multi million-dollar addition specifies that the two extra elite planes be assigned to the District of Columbia units that fly members of Congress and top government officials. To circumvent earmark disclosure laws, the $132 million allotment was classified as an “expansion” of an existing Defense Department program so the legislation need not reveal what lawmaker requested the additional funds.
The taxpayer-financed planes are luxury business jets touted for their exceptional comfort and up to four distinct living areas, three temperature zones and a choice of a dozen floor plan configurations with seating for nearly 20 passengers. Public servants evidently feel they deserve no less, even though they’re supposed to fly commercial and many do.
The aircrafts are operated by the U.S. Military and members of Congress, especially Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have been exposed for abusing the perk. Earlier this year Judicial Watch made public Department of Defense files documenting how the Speaker wastes valuable taxpayer dollars by using the military aircrafts as her personal airline to ferry her and her relatives around the world.
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1. They are military versions of the 550, the C-37B. These are not "luxury" business jets. (though they are still relatively nice inside)
2. The original order by the pentagon was for one.
3. the additional 2 Gulfstreams were added by asshats:
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The funding for the jets was pushed by two members of the Appropriations Committee, Democrat Sanford Bishop and Republican Jack Kingston.
Both are from Georgia, where the Gulfstream is made, and both have received more than $10,000 over the past two years in campaign contributions from General Dynamics, the parent company of Gulfstream.
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4. The additional jets belong to 89th Airlift Wing, which transports everybody from Generals to Presidential staff. They currently have 3 or 4 of em.
To recap.
The US military operates a miltary version of the Gulfstream as a C-37. they use it because it fast and cheaper to operate than ferrying around miltary and government personnel on heavies. Great for round the clock any time of day flights.
The pentagon felt it needed another one because either the current fleet wasn't enough to do the job or an airframe was wearing out.
Two Georgia Asshats, one democrat and one republican tucked into a defense bill 2 additional planes to funnel money into their district probably on direction from lobbyist working for Gulfstream or local vendors who are part of supply chain.