>New Cars for Citizens, $550m for Congress in the New Jets for Junkets program

>Now that congress has approved the spending of billions in tax payer money on various stimulus programs, with the most popular being the recent extension of the Cash for Clunkers program, they have decided to reward themselves with $550 million on new luxury jets. This just reinforces that the concept of cutting back for anyone in government or the current administration seems to be a long forgotten concept. The very same elected officials who blasted the three US automakers CEO’s for flying private jets when asking for a financial bailout are themselves now guilty of over-the-top spending of tax payer (share holder) money.

This kind of spending was even derided in the pro-government, liberal leaning LA times blog which noted that:

With 14 million Americans still out of work, Congress is seeking $550 million for eight new aircraft that would increase the fleet the Air Force uses to ferry senators and representatives to war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan as well less dangerous locations like London, Paris and the Galapagos. No question, congressional travel is on the upswing. Overseas trips by lawmakers has increased almost tenfold since 1995 and so the Obama administration requested $220 million in its budget to buy four passenger jets for congressional use, including two that are currently being leased by the Air Force. Yet, for some reason, the House Appropriations Committee thought that wasn’t enough. So just before lawmakers left for August recess, the House doubled the order to eight aircraft, at a cost of $550 million.

“The whole thing kind of makes me sick to my stomach,” Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill told the Wall Street Journal. “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.”

While I agree that Congress men and women need more security and flexibility when travelling on state business, surely there are more cost effective ways for them to manage their travel plans? In fact the Air force, which maintains the jets for Congress, had not requested the upgrade saying that the current fleet and original upgrade plans were sufficient. However, members of the House added funds for the luxury jets anyway – after all the spending sprockets are open, so why not take advantage?

Lawmakers spent about $13 million traveling the world last year, a tenfold increase since 1995. Even at this record high, the new jets purchase is equal to the cost of about 40 years of travelling – not including the maintenance and on going operational costs. Further it is unlikely that jets will last that long and cover all of Congress’ travel needs anyway. But the biggest kicker of all is that travel costs are covered by an unlimited fund created by a three-decade-old law (another one congress slipped through), which includes free travel of accompanying spouses!

Congress may have given us cash for clunkers, but they rewarded themselves with the Jets for Junkets program!