New details cast doubt on why Tom Price needed a private jet
Source: Politico
Missed trip to Ritz-Carlton led to charter use.
By DAN DIAMOND
09/22/2017 06:14 PM EDT
HHS Secretary Tom Price has been taking private jets because an unreliable commercial flight once forced him to cancel an important meeting, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson says, part of his agenda to meet with average Americans outside of Washington.
But the flight in question to a two-day industry conference at a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Southern California didn't get off the ground on a day when storms virtually shut down air traffic in the Washington region, preventing even private jets from getting out.
The details cast into doubt HHS' justification for Price's use of private jets as he faces criticism from congressional Democrats and a review of whether he complied with Federal Travel Regulations from his department's inspector general.
Prices planned trip was to the Health Evolution Summit in early April, a 550-person event mostly attended by health industry executives and investors, say three individuals with knowledge of Prices schedule. HHS has justified Prices subsequent use of taxpayer-funded charter jets as necessary for official business, particularly given the risk of commercial flights being canceled or delayed.
use of taxpayer money.
.........................................
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/22/tom-price-charter-jet-flights-243040
Flimsy excuses for wasting tax money.
Link to tweet
HHS has justified secretary Tom Prices use of taxpayer-funded charter jets as necessary for official business, citing the risk of commercial flights being canceled or delayed. | Jacqueline Larma/AP Photo
Horse with no Name
(33,956 posts)joshdawg
(2,638 posts)They are ALL a "bunch of fucking swamp monsters"!!!!!
Marthe48
(16,692 posts)What an entitled fat cat pos.
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)burrowowl
(17,607 posts)napi21
(45,806 posts)are as ticked off about this activity as I am. When he was in congress he spent a lot of campaign time complaining about the misuse of "private plane usage" by those awful people in Washington! I HOPE he gets sanctioned and forced to pay the taxpayer for his expensive arrogance!
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)Morally and ethically bankrupt republicans always treat themselves to two scoops at the taxpayer's expense.
Bengus81
(6,907 posts)So much different wayyyyyy back in 2009 when he bitched endlessly about their use and the waste of tax payer $$. Now...eh ALL for using them since he's not a lowly House member but a big shot Secretary.
FakeNoose
(32,356 posts)Nobody needs to fly across the country to have face-to-face meetings any more.
He's just a grifter anyway, I thought Trump was going to drain the swamp.
Oh, that's right!
Hey Mr. Price
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)At least for legislators. Industry will always come to them as felt beneficial.
FakeNoose
(32,356 posts)ThoughtCriminal
(14,011 posts)to get him in a room full of industry lobbyists faster.
Maybe NASA can accommodate him.