Republican vacations - you won't like reading this

[ensho]

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/08/07/republican-leade... /

Republican leaders need more luxury jets for globe trotting vacations


After losing an effort to block $2 billion more for one of President Barack H. Obama's successful initiatives -- the "cash for clunkers" program -- The Wall Street Journal reports that two leading Republicans are using taxpayer money to take their colleagues on vacations around the world.

Fortunately, their demands are leading Congress to buy more luxury aircraft which at least will benefit two American companies -- $350 million for Boeing (BA) and $198 million for Gulfstream International (GIA). But with 6.5 million Americans out of work, does this send the right signal?

Those two Republicans are prominent in the House and Senate. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) is leading five other lawmakers on a trip around the world; and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) is taking a group of senators and their spouses to Europe for three weeks. These are just two of 11 separate taxpayer-funded August 2009 junkets for our Congress.

What is most interesting is where Congress is taking these luxury aircraft: Kuwait, Germany and Austria are the three most popular destinations. I cannot imagine why it is important for taxpayers to pay for these trips, and they do raise lots of questions, here are two:

-snip-

By the way, it's not too late to stop this outrage. The budget has yet to be approved in the Senate. So you can send this post to your Senator and let him or her know your feelings.
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they want to be out of the country when the shit happens

[annabanana]

1. I'm guessing that Shelbly is the King of Alabama. .

There is no way on Earth that fair elections in that State put him in that seat.

[Botany]

2. Will Boner throw do something on the plane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvnwOjDjnH4

[holiday]

3. thanks

I shared this on facebook. I've had so many repubs on there complaining about cash for clunkers (the gov't can't run that so how will they run healthcare lol). I can't stand Boehner. When will he be out of office. I wish someone would run against him and put him out of a job.

[tosh]

4. Anyone read NaNa's comment over there?

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. Life's a lot easier when you conduct your town halls in Kuwait. n/t

[Historic NY]

6. Must be heading to Oktoberfest, Why else would you go to Austria & Germany.

[TankLV]

7. wow - and GUESS WHO'S BITCHING THE LOUDEST ABOUT THE PLANES?!!!!

I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count...

[bvar22]

8. Can you imagine....

...being locked in a private jet for hours on end with the likes of Boner and Shelby.

[Honeycombe8]

9. That is so offensive to me, as a citizen, at this time of economic crisis.

I could see if there were some official or economic reason to make the trip. Or even just a vacation that wasn't so costly.

But this seems over the top to me.

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. +1