Pelosi Jet Request Sparks Debate

Does Size Matter When It Comes To Speaker's Military Jet? Republicans Say Yes

(CBS/AP)  Ever since 9/11, a small military jet has been made available to transport the Speaker of the House for security reasons, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports. The Speaker is second in the line of succession to the presidency.

Before the 2006 elections, the speaker was Republican Dennis Hastert of Illinois. Now it's California Democrat Nancy Pelosi, and she may be getting some more leg room. Pelosi reportedly is asking for a much bigger jet — a government version of the Boeing 757 that can make the trip between Washington and her San Francisco home without stopping to refuel.

The speaker's critics have dubbed it "Pelosi One." Military officials are said to be grumbling about it, and she finds herself on the defensive. Today, she insisted that size doesn't really matter.

"It's not a question of size. It's a question of distance. We want an aircraft that can reach California," Pelosi said.

A Defense Department spokesman said Wednesday that the Pentagon informed Pelosi's staff that she would be provided with a plane but that its size would be based on availability.

But an aircraft like that can also comfortably seat 50 — and Republican leader Roy Blunt of Missouri is among those questioning how all those extra seats might get filled.

"If you can say to your supporters 'Do you want to fly with me from San Francisco this week, spend the week in New York and fly back with me,' that's an incredible perk. It's an incredible fundraising tool," Blunt said.

Pelosi's office told CBS News she'll follow all the appropriate guidelines. The problem is there aren't any yet. Because of the flap, the Defense Department are said to be quickly writing the rules for the speaker's plane — with regulations on everything from size to who can go along for the ride.

[proudtobeamerican727]

This type of waste happens all over America, at our expense! First Energy, a public utility, has 4 corporate jets worth over $60 million dollars. These jets never fly, except to take the CEO to Vegas. Not too long ago, a seat was ordered for the CEO costing $116,000. This same company recently laid off 100's of employees and announced it is seeking government bailout money. "Only in America"

[thgdriver]

It's amazing that some posters here would not afford the first lady of the USA a "secure plane" to fly in.

On second thought, the hatred for her husband is so intense, it does tend to boil over to his family. I am not surprised at all. She only has to be one of the sweetest first lady's we've had recently.

[firststate]

You are right about the modified 757 being an egotistical Washington request, but in a different sense. The people for whom this aircraft had to be bought with our tax money are obviously possessed of such huge egos that they require about 4 times as much room per person as the rest of the people here who fly this aircraft as paying passengers. About 200 mere mortals at a time fly around in this plane every day. Only about 50 important people can fit into the same space.

If this aircraft is too big and expensive for use by an elected Constitutional officer of the United States, why is it just the right size for Laura Bush to be schlepped around on.

I understand that given her history, it's in nobody's interest for her to drive, ever, but I can't grasp why it's not too big for lille old her to go flying around on.

[thgdriver]

david1737

Just wait six years, "her list" will be twice the size you posted.

[firststate]

Ray Blunt, the Republican leaders says Pelosi wants to be able to fly people with her and that's why she wants a larger plane. He ignores the fact that Hastert routinely ferried other Republican Congressmen around the country. Even sending "his" plane from Aurora to pick up anoth member and returning to Aurora to then get Hastert for a flight to DC.

Snow on Thursday said the negotiations over Pelosi's transport have been conducted solely by the House sergeant-at-arms and the Pentagon, with no direct involvement by the speaker or her office %u2014 or the White House. "This is a silly story and I think it's been unfair to the speaker," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. That must have hurt him to say.

Pelosi said she would be happy to fly on commercial airliners but said the House sergeant-at-arms office urged her to continue Hastert's practice of using Air Force transport. She said she was informed on her first trip home that her plane would not make it across the country. "I said well, that's fine, I'm going commercial," she told Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren. "I'm not asking to go on that plane. If you need to take me there for security purposes, you're going to have to get a plane that goes across the country, because I'm going home to my family."

[thgdriver]

I am sure this was right up there with all the "IMPORTANT" things she wanted to get done in the first 100 days, Who's surprised? I'm not.

[firststate]

tibu987
The White House says that Pelosi has not been involved with the discussions with DOD. The House Sergeant at Arms has been conducting the talks with DOD, not Pelosi or her staff. Since they aren't her biggest fans, I don't really picture them lying for her benefit.

I'm working on my jet rating and I've been at the controls of the G-150 and G-200. I might be willing to do bodily harm to have either at my disposal. The G-150's nominal maximum range is 2,984 nm or less, depending on how it's outfitted. I have no specific knowledge of what goodies the DOD might add to them, but Gulfstream's are clear about the wisdom of not pushing for that range. The factors I mentioned plus cruising speed and payload weight are all factors that can change the effective range of any aircraft.

On any jet, the max payload weight plummets with anything like the max fuel. So a jet's max range is almost always computed assuming the crew and not much else for payload. As you add passengers, luggage and any other weight, you have to reduce the amount of fuel. This significantly decreases range.

The DOD surely makes contingency allowances, especially for a flight with the person 2nd in the line of succession. Given that, it makes sense for them to say they might have to stop to refuel.

[pepperwood2]

Once upon a time, in the beginning of 2007, we the people were looking forward to see the meeting of a NEW 110th US Congress. We were assured by its NEW SPEAKER that she would lead the Congress by example. Democrats & Republicans alike would put aside their animosity, rancor, and poisonous polictics of personal destruction and go where no CONGRESS had gone before. Get Back to doing the much needed work for the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Usher in the Age of Aquarius.

In less than a month, its back to polictics as usual.

BTW what ever happened to those Congressional Travel Vouchers that got missing?

[pepperwood2]

First of all I'd like to thank CBS NEWS for taking the time to report this story, and also allowing its members the opportunity to comment.

Once upon a time, in the beginning of 2007 we, the people were excited to see the formation of a NEW 110th US Congress. AT that time, we were assured by its NEW SPEAKER that she would see that House/Senate Democrats & Republicans alike would put aside their animosity, rancor, poisonous politics of personal destruction, and get back to doing the WORK of the AMERICAN PEOPLE. This congress was for real and was going to usher in The AGE of AQUARIUS.

In less than a month, with all the benefits & perks available to our representatives, this troubling story comes to pass.

SPEAKER: Never mind that I don't have to pay for these Items, BUT I Demand the Biggest & Best Military/Civilian Aircraft that the American Working Class can afford for ME.....for ME & MY Entourage.....Right now if not sooner.

Special thank you to CBS NEWS for giving its Grassroots Members. "The Rest of the Story"

[david1737]

Ohhh Please!

Abu Ghraib
Git-Mo
Haliburton
No WMD
No opperative conection to 9-11
No "Yellow Cake"
Outing a CIA opperative
Wire Tapping
Data Minning
9 Billion unaccounted for in Iraq
"mucaca"
"Clear Skys"
"Healthy Forests"
Endless vacation at Crawford Ranch
"Either your are with us or against us"
Hundreds and Hundreds of Billions of dollars spent in Iraq ETC...

And we are talking about a bigger plane!