Pols should dump their private planes

Recently Citigroup was forced to cancel its order for a private jet. Pressure was exerted by the president and others in Congress as Citi had received billions in taxpayer money as part of the "bailout," and some people were incensed that they could buy a "luxury" item after requesting a handout from taxpayers. Although substantial penalties were apparently incurred, and they had justified the business expense on the basis of increased efficiency and the sale of older jets, they caved to government pressure. I don't know if Citigroup needs another jet, but I am certain that none of our political class do, either. I do know that taxpayers pay for private jets to ferry all sorts of high-level politicians. Here in Illinois the ex-governor shuttled back and forth to Springfield in a taxpayer-owned and operated private jet. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, jets back and forth to California in a large, luxurious, private jet also owned and operated by the U.S. taxpayers. I understand the president and the vice president can justify on security issues and the speaker is next in line, but these are times for serious cost cutting. What are the chances all three traveling separately will run into trouble? In my opinion we should never have gone down this road, but now that we are here Ms. Pelosi has a golden opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to good government. Rather than micromanaging businesses of which they know nothing, government should control their own costs and dump the private plane. The taxpayers made a contribution to Citigroup's business but they pay all of government's expense.

Robert Bivin

Naperville