High Flying Congress
The House approves nearly $200 million for elite Gulfstream jets.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2009— -- Call it Jets for Junkets. Congress is poised to spend $200 million to buy the Air Force three of the highest performing passenger jets in the world, including two planes that will be used for members of Congress and other government VIPs.
The money is included in the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that passed overwhelmingly in the House July 30 by a vote of 400 to 30.
The jets are military versions of the Gulfstream G550, a passenger jet with a cruising speed of more than 600 miles per hour that is capable of flying non-stop from Washington to Beijing without refueling.
The Pentagon had only asked for one jet, which it intends to use for its new Africa Command.
Money for the other two was inserted by the House Appropriations Committee, which also inserted a requirement that the jets be used by the Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing, which is based at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, and provides transportation for government VIPs -- including members of Congress.
"We ask for only what we need and nothing more," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said. "Congress would be the one who would best be equipped to answer why it is they have added additional Gulfstreams to the budget."
The funding for the jets was pushed by two members of the Appropriations Committee, Democrat Sanford Bishop and Republican Jack Kingston.
Both are from Georgia, where the Gulfstream is made, and both have received more than $10,000 over the past two years in campaign contributions from General Dynamics, the parent company of Gulfstream.
Bishop didn't return calls for comment. Kingston's office told ABC News that buying the jets "supports local industry" and means jobs for his district.
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