"Pelosi One" remains Grounded

It is business as usual in Washington DC. It appears that Speaker Pelosi is not content with having the military provide her with regular transport back to her Congressional District in San Francisco. She apparently wants the Air Force to provide her with a large passenger jet for her and her staff to use for travel.

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"Pelosi's push for jet remains up in air
By Rowan Scarborough and Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
February 7, 2007

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has requested access to a large Air Force passenger jet that can make nonstop flights to her home district of San Francisco, such as this Boeing C-32. ( )

The Bush administration has agreed to provide House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with regular access to an Air Force passenger jet, but the two sides are negotiating whether she will get the big aircraft she wants and who she may take as passengers, according to congressional and administration sources.

A congressional source said that Rep. John P. Murtha, chairman of House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, which controls the Pentagon's spending, has telephoned administration officials to urge them to give the speaker what she wants.

The congressional source said Pentagon officials complained that Mr. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, is accusing them of sexism for not immediately heeding her request.

Megan E. Grote, Mr. Murtha's press secretary, said, 'Mr. Murtha absolutely never said anything about being 'sexist.' We have no further comment.'

Meanwhile, Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida said Mrs. Pelosi's request represents 'an arrogance of office that just defies common sense' and called it 'a major deviation from the previous speaker.'

Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri called it a 'flying Lincoln Bedroom,' and Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, labeled the speaker's plane 'Pelosi One.' "

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