Judicial Watch has uncovered, and posted it its website, large volumes of email documenting Congressional requests for military airlifts. The March 10, 2009 story highlights some of the more brazen communications from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office and assistant’s to Department of Defense (DOD) staff.
During another email exchange DOD staff advised Kay King that one Pelosi military aircraft request could not be met because of “crew rest requirements” and offered to help secure commercial travel. Kay King responded: “We appreciate the efforts to help the codel [sic] fly commercially but you know the problem that creates with spouses. If we can find another way to assist with military assets, we would like to do that.”
Or…
One DOD official complained about the “hidden costs” associated with the speaker’s last minute changes and cancellations. “We have…folks prepping the jets and crews driving in (not a short drive for some), cooking meals and preflighting the jets etc.”
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton offers…
“Taken together, these documents show that Speaker Pelosi treats the Air Force like her personal airline. Not only does Speaker Pelosi issue unreasonable requests for military travel, but her office seems unconcerned about wasting taxpayer money with last minute cancellations and other demands.”
The information Judicial Watch has unearthed seems hypocritcal compared to the strong language coming from Washington D.C., aimed at business users of aviation.
Is this the “change” that we were promised?
There are several thousand of unemployed aviation-related workers in Wichita, Kansas, alone. Why must the Speaker of the House berate and beat up on legitimate uses of aviation that also in the long run help American business save fuel, save time, and reduce overall emissions?
“Kay King responded: “We appreciate the efforts to help the codel [sic] fly commercially but you know the problem that creates with spouses.””
Tough crap! Deal with it like the rest of us! Idiot! Quite using the military as your personel airline service. They have more important things to do than cart your complaining butt around.