Rick Perry's campaign discloses more private jet costs

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Rick Perry's presidential campaign on Friday reported nearly $230,000 in new expenses related to private jet use, after a report revealed last month the campaign mistakenly under-paid the owners of the jets.

The campaign reported the expenses to the Federal Election Commission today, including more than $22,000 paid to Waco businessman Brian Pardo and more than $66,000 to Midland Energy CEO Javaid Anwar. Last month, the New York Times reported that Perry's campaign was improperly reimbursing the jet owners.

The campaign said it was calculating the cost of flights based on the percentage of seats used by campaign officials, instead of the full cost of renting a plane as required under the law (the law was tightened a few years ago).

The new expenses were coincidentally reported on the same day the Times reported on Perry's use of private jets in his capacity as governor. Perry took more than 200 flights, worth $1.3 million, in private planes in his 11 years as governor.

Texas law allows public officials to use private planes for official business, and Perry's spokesperson told the Times the governor was trying to save taxpayer dollars. On top of that, the spokesman said Perry makes no promises to a plane's owner in exchange for such flights, nor does he consider the owner's interest in the trip.

[mzhi808]

Ok CaptainIdiot: Air Force One is use by every President for official and personal use. THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS BEEN. Hello? You expect this President to fly on United? Aye, Aye Captain.

[CaptainSmollett]

This article is insane. It was his campaign funds that paid the bill, not the taxpayer, unlike Obama and Pelosi who used Air Force jets for personal use.

[stn_sage]

The reporter is stating what he was told by PERRY'S spokesperson!
So, if you don't like it, or, you disagree with it, take it up
with Perry's spokesperson, it's NOT the reporters' fault!
The spokesperson miss-spoke, or, told the truth, depending on your point of view!

[commonworkingman]

It comes with the office. Bush got it. So did Clinton, Papa Bush and Reagan. Bush jr had more vacation days than any other president followed by Reagan. Expand your mind and quit watching fox noise. You might even learn something factual.

[baileyccc]

How can anyone expect him to run a nation if he can run his own business? He is done, stick a fork in him.