I seem to recall our elected representatives ripping auto execs for flying around in private jets. One then wonders why they just bought three of them for their own use? From Roll Call:
"House Orders Up Three Elite Jets"
"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."
Isn't that special? Now those important political types won't have to wait in long lines to be fondled and groped by TSA. Nor will they have to ride in coach with their knees tucked comfortably behind their ears. How nice for Congress.
But that isn't even the punchline--
"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. "
Gotta cover your tracks, don't you know.
Time to fire the whole damn lot of them just to make sure we get the right ones.