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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 11:37 AM Sep 2017

Ed Dept.: DeVos Uses Private Jet To Tour Schools At 'Zero Cost To Taxpayers'

Source: Associated Press




By Maria Danilova Published SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 10:53 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos uses a private jet to fly around the country to tour schools and attend other work events on her own dime, according to her office.

Education Department Press Secretary Liz Hill said in a statement to The Associated Press that DeVos travels “on personally-owned aircraft” at zero cost to taxpayers. Speaking with the AP on Thursday, Hill would not disclose details about the model or any other characteristics of the aircraft.

“The secretary neither seeks, nor accepts, any reimbursement for her flights, nor for any additional official travel-related expenses, such as lodging and per diem, even though she is entitled to such reimbursement under government travel regulations,” Hill said. “Secretary DeVos accepted her position to serve the public and is fully committed to being a faithful steward of taxpayer dollars.”

The issue of Cabinet secretaries’ travel came under scrutiny on Wednesday when Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price faced an outcry over chartering five private flights last week for official business when other cheaper travel options were available. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said Democrats would seek a “full accounting” of Price’s travel from his department’s inspector general. “Taxpayer funds are not meant to be used as a jet-setting slush fund,” Pallone said.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/devos-uses-private-jet-for-work-travel

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Ed Dept.: DeVos Uses Private Jet To Tour Schools At 'Zero Cost To Taxpayers' (Original Post) DonViejo Sep 2017 OP
lol, good for her, is someone checking to make sure is not lying through her teeth. Thomas Hurt Sep 2017 #1
If only she could be an effective public servant truthisfreedom Sep 2017 #2
If true, good. mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2017 #3
Except the IRS. Mr.Bill Sep 2017 #9
Its the Marie Antoinette optics that are objectionable. procon Sep 2017 #4
"Education Department Press Secretary Liz Hill said ..." DK504 Sep 2017 #5
Bet not everything is private otchmoson Sep 2017 #12
So? She's still a piece of shit. Solly Mack Sep 2017 #6
Exactly. gilligan Sep 2017 #17
Would be easy enough to check, for the individual with aircraft experience benld74 Sep 2017 #7
So, does she Mr.Bill Sep 2017 #8
That sounds like an in-kind donation to me Hekate Sep 2017 #10
But will she quietly submit her expenses for reimbursement? George II Sep 2017 #11
So, by extension, it would be a good thing if there were more filthy rich people 'serving' us groundloop Sep 2017 #13
She must hate Tom Price to put this piece of info out there TeamPooka Sep 2017 #14
Damn, that's serious eff you money she has. Life as a 1%'r. harun Sep 2017 #15
but what about her security entourage? They_Live Sep 2017 #16
I want to know who's paying the bills jmowreader Sep 2017 #18
Which translates to TexasBushwhacker Sep 2017 #19

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,492 posts)
3. If true, good.
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 11:44 AM
Sep 2017
Speaking with the AP on Thursday, Hill would not disclose details about the model or any other characteristics of the aircraft.

I guess we're stuck then. No one will ever be able to figure that one out.

procon

(15,805 posts)
4. Its the Marie Antoinette optics that are objectionable.
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 11:51 AM
Sep 2017

The DeVos family has a net worth of $5.5 billion, so the cost of her own plane is chump change. The issue is this obscenely rich woman jets around the country on a mission to undermine public education and replace it with a for profit business venture that will make her even richer. She doing everything she can to cut funding for schools, marginalize teachers and eliminate collective bargaining for workers.

Sure, she has a nice plane and doesn't bill her expenses to the US treasury, but that does little to mitigate the money cut she's cut the Department’s budget.

DK504

(3,847 posts)
5. "Education Department Press Secretary Liz Hill said ..."
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 11:54 AM
Sep 2017

Liz doesn't get the fact her companies and family companies and their personal fortunes are all taken out of our taxes. Along with the constant strain on our public intrastructure, which they refuse to pay their far share, is still taking money out of tapayers hands.

Of course the rubes will believe the bullshit blurb/bumper sticker comments.

otchmoson

(68 posts)
12. Bet not everything is private
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 12:51 PM
Sep 2017

Does she take off and land at private airports? Does she get to her plane on private roads? Does she employ private air traffic controllers to be sure she is safe in the air? I know, I know . . . she (and her family) did it ALL themselves. (None of those little Amway "entrepreneurs" contributed at all to her success story. Their participation in the pyramid that IS Amway got her to the glorious, private heights she enjoys today.)

benld74

(9,904 posts)
7. Would be easy enough to check, for the individual with aircraft experience
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 12:03 PM
Sep 2017

i.e. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141870533#post12

a DU poster included a image of PROOF planes either were in same airport at same time or in the general vicinity of same airport.

Mr.Bill

(24,303 posts)
8. So, does she
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 12:06 PM
Sep 2017

write off the cost of that airplane on her taxes? As in, not just the fuel burned on the trips, but depreciation and the salaries of crew, etc. who may also be used on personal flights? And does the line blur at all on what's government business and personal business or pleasure use? Does she write off the plane for personal trips by simply visiting a school in the area? Easy to do since schools are pretty much everywhere.

They_Live

(3,236 posts)
16. but what about her security entourage?
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 03:17 PM
Sep 2017

I'm pretty sure we're paying for that, and it's never been needed before for this position.

jmowreader

(50,560 posts)
18. I want to know who's paying the bills
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 03:42 PM
Sep 2017

I kinda doubt she's opening her own checkbook for these planes and hotel rooms. If she's getting her travel paid for by people in the private school or charter school industry, that would be an illegal inducement.

Could someone find the N-numbers of the planes she's using? We can bounce them off the FAA registration database and go from there.

But it's just like the Trump Bund to praise people committing felonies.

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