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TexasTowelie

(112,202 posts) Fri Oct 13, 2017, 07:20 PM Oct 2017

Energy boss Rick Perry points to WWII-era Manhattan Project to defend $56K in noncommercial air trav

Energy boss Rick Perry points to WWII-era Manhattan Project to defend $56K in noncommercial air travel

WASHINGTON — Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Thursday defended $56,000 dollars in taxpayer money used to fund noncommercial air travel for him and his staff, in part by blaming the World War II-era Manhattan Project for building his agency's assets in far-flung locations.

The former Texas governor, appearing before a House energy subcommittee, explained that the Energy Department is "kind of unique."

He said that when legendary Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves created the atomic mission in the 1940s, "he wanted to go places that were pretty difficult to get to." So to get to places like Hanford, Wash., in a "timely fashion" these days, Perry said it could sometimes require noncommercial travel.

"I travel a lot to do my job," the Texan said told lawmakers. "I do it in a way I think is thoughtful, with the taxpayers in mind. I'm going to continue to do my job. I'm going to try to do it in the most thoughtful and most reasonable way."

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2017/10/12/energy-boss-rick-perry-harkens-back-manhattan-project-defend-56k-non-commercial-air-travel

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Energy boss Rick Perry points to WWII-era Manhattan Project to defend $56K in noncommercial air trav (Original Post) TexasTowelie Oct 2017 OP

K&R Glorfindel Oct 2017 #1

ha ha. The places Perry went to are ALL in the continental US!! riversedge Oct 2017 #2

They don't even bother to come up with good excuses. nt Irish_Dem Oct 2017 #3

Yeah, well Groves ran Manhattan Project money through his personal bank accounts for secrecy. rzemanfl Oct 2017 #4

Skype, little Ricky. Another Dotard. nt Ilsa Oct 2017 #5

Glorfindel

(9,729 posts)

1. K&R

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Fri Oct 13, 2017, 07:28 PM

Oct 2017

Perry:

riversedge

(70,220 posts)

2. ha ha. The places Perry went to are ALL in the continental US!!

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Fri Oct 13, 2017, 07:28 PM

Oct 2017

....But lawmakers nonetheless pressed Perry to explain the six noncommercial trips he's taken since coming into office.

Four of the trips used government planes to take Perry to Energy Department sites in Idaho, New Mexico, Kansas and Washington. The other two involved a chartered flight to a Pennsylvania coal plant — "at the request of the White House" — and then on to a DOE site in Ohio.

"I continue to be concerned by the amount of money this administration is spending when it comes to noncommercial travel for members of the cabinet and their staff," said Rep. Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat who said he was requesting DOE's inspector general to look into the travel.