Green jobs.

coadie · #1 08-05-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

House Orders Up Three Elite Jets
August 5, 2009
By Paul Singer
Roll Call Staff
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.

An Appropriations Committee staffer said the military was already planning to replace its passenger fleet, and the committee “looked at the request and decided they should speed up the replacement.”

The Gulfstream G550 is a luxury business jet, which the company advertises as featuring long-range flight capacity that “easily links Washington, D.C., with Dubai, London with Singapore and Tokyo with Paris.” The company’s promotional materials say, “The cabin aboard the G550 combines productivity with exceptional comfort. It features up to four distinct living areas, three temperature zones, a choice of 12 floor plan configurations with seating for up to 18 passengers.”

The version Gulfstream sells to the military is reconfigured for the government with modest accommodations, not the luxury version sold to private customers, said a source familiar with the planes.

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) had submitted a request to the Appropriations Committee for a $70 million earmark for one airplane on behalf of Georgia-based Gulfstream, and Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) lists the airplane as one of the earmarks that he was asked to request, though his office said he never made the request to the Appropriations Committee.

“The committee saw fit to fund it at that level” without Kingston’s involvement, his spokesman said.

Gotta trade in those 3 year old Learjet clunkers. One of these machines creates as much CO2 in 1 hour as is generated by 12,000 people driving the family car to church on Sunday in Amerika.

Esther · #2 08-05-2009, 01:22 PM

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) had submitted a request to the Appropriations Committee for a $70 million earmark for one airplane on behalf of Georgia-based Gulfstream, and Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) lists the airplane as one of the earmarks that he was asked to request, though his office said he never made the request to the Appropriations Committee.

“The committee saw fit to fund it at that level” without Kingston’s involvement, his spokesman said.

WOW! Some folks have lots of gall. {southern term}

coadie · #3 08-05-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esther

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) had submitted a request to the Appropriations Committee for a $70 million earmark for one airplane on behalf of Georgia-based Gulfstream, and Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) lists the airplane as one of the earmarks that he was asked to request, though his office said he never made the request to the Appropriations Committee.

“The committee saw fit to fund it at that level” without Kingston’s involvement, his spokesman said.

WOW! Some folks have lots of gall. {southern term}

Remember when Obama spit on the RV Industry in Elkhardt indiana? Is was so horrible for retired people to drive these motor homes. They use a lot of fuel and pay a lot of labor.

A liberal in a jet, can burn more carbon in a long trip than a motorhome uses in 10 years.

Esther · #4 08-05-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coadie

Remember when Obama spit on the RV Industry in Elkhardt indiana? Is was so horrible for retired people to drive these motor homes. They use a lot of fuel and pay a lot of labor.

A liberal in a jet, can burn more carbon in a long trip than a motorhome uses in 10 years.

Obama doesn't seem to care for the elderly. He wants to offer consultation on how they should end it.

coadie · #5 08-05-2009, 02:51 PM

So Gov Plain will put these on e-bay. It sure looks like Palin will have a lot of corruption to clean up. Actually she could have prevented this.

Esther · #6 08-05-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coadie

So Gov Plain will put these on e-bay. It sure looks like Palin will have a lot of corruption to clean up. Actually she could have prevented this.

??????????

coadie · #7 08-05-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esther

??????????

Palin put Alaska state jet on e-bay when she checked into office. Said it wasted far too much money. Now someone will need to sell the gulfstreams we don't need.

Esther · #8 08-05-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coadie

Palin put Alaska state jet on e-bay when she checked into office. Said it wasted far too much money. Now someone will need to sell the gulfstreams we don't need.

lol Gotcha...good luck on that.

SOUNWORTHY · #9 08-06-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coadie

Remember when Obama spit on the RV Industry in Elkhardt indiana? Is was so horrible for retired people to drive these motor homes. They use a lot of fuel and pay a lot of labor.

A liberal in a jet, can burn more carbon in a long trip than a motorhome uses in 10 years.

I need to know,Did Obama really say that? I've worked two jobs most of my life and am at least 11 years past full retirement. I'm gonna hit the road tomorrow in my 40 ft diesel guzzler and thumb my nose at Obama and his molty crew!! I earned it and God made it possible for me to have it.

coadie · #10 08-06-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOUNWORTHY

I need to know,Did Obama really say that? I've worked two jobs most of my life and am at least 11 years past full retirement. I'm gonna hit the road tomorrow in my 40 ft diesel guzzler and thumb my nose at Obama and his molty crew!! I earned it and God made it possible for me to have it.

Have a good time. The day comes when they will install a mileage monitor at a security checkpoint and you can pay mileage tax. Just a little actual trivia. In terms of total cost including equipment and energy, your motor coach with 3 people in it is more economical per passenger mile than passenger trains are in America.