Political Use of Corporate Aircraft 2001-2005

[Algorem]

http://www.tray.com/

UPDATE: Mon Mar 6, 2006

In the last five years (2001-2005), Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and their leadership PACs, the leadership PACs of U.S. Senators, national party committees, and presidential candidate George Bush reported reimbursing corporations for air travel 2,154 times and valuing the cost of travel at $3,670,245.

Federal candidates and committees are required to reimburse companies for their corporate air travel expense. There were 189 reimbursements to companies in 2001, 403 in 2002, 527 in 2003, 566 in 2004, and 469 in 2005.

One Hundred and ninety-two (192) Members and their political committees, along with presidential candidate George Bush, reported reimbursing corporations $2,230,353 for use of corporate aircraft. Party committees have reported reimbursing corporations $1,439,892 for travel.

The Members reporting the largest amounts were Rep. Roy Blunt ($125,187 for 91 reimbursements), Rep. Michael Oxley ($108,710 for 64 reimbursements), Rep/Sen. Saxby Chambliss ($101,795 for 60 reimbursements), Rep. Don Young ($83,077 for 31 reimbursements), Sen. Bill Frist ($69,030 for 31 reimbursements), Rep. Tom Reynolds ($63,185 for 24 reimbursements), Rep. Tom DeLay ($62,513 for 56 reimbursements), and Rep. Billy Tauzin ($57,920 for 32 reimbursements). Early presidential campaigning by corporate jet showed Sen. John Edwards ($313,749 for 120 reimbursements, and George Bush ($149,667 for 47 reimbursements). A complete list of the 192 candidates appears in the corporate jet database, including dates of payments, amounts per trip, and the company that was reimbursed...