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Pelosi's big bird: Flying the speaker
Posted by Mark Silva at 9 am, updated at 11:49 am and 1:05 pm CST
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, protecting the speaker of the House has become a more important national priority – and that's all the White House has to say today about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's kerfuffle-stirring bid for an airliner-sized military jet for her long commute from Washington home to San Francisco and back.
The 12-seat corporate-styled jet that the Department of Defense provided for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert for his commutes home to Illinois isn't suitable for the long haul to California, says the new speaker – with Pelosi now seeking an aircraft capable of a nonstop commute between D.C. and the Golden Gate.
With the Department of Defense promising the new speaker a bigger ride, pending availability of the military's markup of the Boeing 757-200, the White House is attempting to stay out of the air-space of a story that is causing the Democratic House leader a bit of eyebrow-raising publicity today -- as some House Republicans cry foul over this particular frequent flyer's seating request.
"This is a silly story, and I think it's been unfair to the speaker,'' Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, said today. "I'm not getting into this argument. This is not something we're in the midst of doing.''
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This is a model of the military aircraft the new House speaker wants for a nonstop Washington-San Francisco route.
There is a purpose for military conveyances of the elected official who stands second in line to succession of the president in the event of a catastrophe, the White House maintains.
"In the wake of 9/11, the Department of Defense decided that in order to protect the speaker they would fly him,'' Snow said today. "The whole purpose is to find an appropriate and effective conveyance for the speaker of the House.''
Republicans complain that Pelosi is abusing the privilege of her her office in seeking an airliner-sized conveyance with room for family and friends on the long hops home and back.
The Republican National Committee today is billing it as "Pelosi's power trip'' and has taken to calling the speaker ''Non-Stop Nancy.'' The speaker, the RNC says, "seeks (a) flight of fancy.''
What's noteworthy about this is that the RNC and White House have taken different tacks on the same story -- unusual for an operation that normally operates off the same script.
And House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has taken yet a third tack, seeking a middle ground, calling the use of a military aircraft understandable but Pelosi's request "over the top:"
"I think that it's clear, after 9/11, that the White House suggested to Speaker Hastert that he fly a military aircraft because the speaker is, in fact, third in line to the presidency. And so I think having access to a plane for the speaker to travel to and from their district, is appropriate.
"I think the questions that have been raised about friends, supporters, relatives, other members flying with her are where the concerns lie, and appear to me to be requests that's a bit over the top,'' Boehner adds
Other Republicans are hewing to the tougher RNC tack.
"It's an extravagance of power the taxpayers won't swallow,'' says Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), chair of the House Republican Conference.
"It has nothing to do with family and friends and everything to do about security," Pelosi says. "It's not a question of size. It's a question of distance,'' she adds. "We want an aircraft that can reach California."
It's true that the 12-seat Air Force jet that ferried Hastert home and back could make the Chicago loop without refueling. But for Pelosi, it takes a 757-200 to raise a home-village visit without stopping for fuel.
A Pentagon spokesman has promised a big bird, based on availability.
But the White House is staying out of this First Class dispute over airborne accommodations, maintaining these negotiations are strictly between the sergeant at arms of the House and the Department of Defense. "This is not something we're in the midst of,'' Snow says.
Tribune wire services contributed to this report.
Posted by Mark Silva at 9 am, updated at 11:49 am and 1:05 pm CST
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, protecting the speaker of the House has become a more important national priority – and that's all the White House has to say today about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's kerfuffle-stirring bid for an airliner-sized military jet for her long commute from Washington home to San Francisco and back.
The 12-seat corporate-styled jet that the Department of Defense provided for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert for his commutes home to Illinois isn't suitable for the long haul to California, says the new speaker – with Pelosi now seeking an aircraft capable of a nonstop commute between D.C. and the Golden Gate.
With the Department of Defense promising the new speaker a bigger ride, pending availability of the military's markup of the Boeing 757-200, the White House is attempting to stay out of the air-space of a story that is causing the Democratic House leader a bit of eyebrow-raising publicity today -- as some House Republicans cry foul over this particular frequent flyer's seating request.
"This is a silly story, and I think it's been unfair to the speaker,'' Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, said today. "I'm not getting into this argument. This is not something we're in the midst of doing.''
Hg2636
This is a model of the military aircraft the new House speaker wants for a nonstop Washington-San Francisco route.
There is a purpose for military conveyances of the elected official who stands second in line to succession of the president in the event of a catastrophe, the White House maintains.
"In the wake of 9/11, the Department of Defense decided that in order to protect the speaker they would fly him,'' Snow said today. "The whole purpose is to find an appropriate and effective conveyance for the speaker of the House.''
Republicans complain that Pelosi is abusing the privilege of her her office in seeking an airliner-sized conveyance with room for family and friends on the long hops home and back.
The Republican National Committee today is billing it as "Pelosi's power trip'' and has taken to calling the speaker ''Non-Stop Nancy.'' The speaker, the RNC says, "seeks (a) flight of fancy.''
What's noteworthy about this is that the RNC and White House have taken different tacks on the same story -- unusual for an operation that normally operates off the same script.
And House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has taken yet a third tack, seeking a middle ground, calling the use of a military aircraft understandable but Pelosi's request "over the top:"
"I think that it's clear, after 9/11, that the White House suggested to Speaker Hastert that he fly a military aircraft because the speaker is, in fact, third in line to the presidency. And so I think having access to a plane for the speaker to travel to and from their district, is appropriate.
"I think the questions that have been raised about friends, supporters, relatives, other members flying with her are where the concerns lie, and appear to me to be requests that's a bit over the top,'' Boehner adds
Other Republicans are hewing to the tougher RNC tack.
"It's an extravagance of power the taxpayers won't swallow,'' says Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), chair of the House Republican Conference.
"It has nothing to do with family and friends and everything to do about security," Pelosi says. "It's not a question of size. It's a question of distance,'' she adds. "We want an aircraft that can reach California."
It's true that the 12-seat Air Force jet that ferried Hastert home and back could make the Chicago loop without refueling. But for Pelosi, it takes a 757-200 to raise a home-village visit without stopping for fuel.
A Pentagon spokesman has promised a big bird, based on availability.
But the White House is staying out of this First Class dispute over airborne accommodations, maintaining these negotiations are strictly between the sergeant at arms of the House and the Department of Defense. "This is not something we're in the midst of,'' Snow says.
Tribune wire services contributed to this report.
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