Legislators Are NOT Royalty. They Are Public Servants And Should NOT Be Treated Special.

Bill Introduced To Stop Lawmakers’ First Class Jet-Setting On Your Dime

May 12, 2014 by Sam Rolley 

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Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House aims to keep lawmakers from wasting taxpayer dollars by traveling in luxury.

The bill, sponsored by Representatives John Barrow (D-Ga.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), is called the “If Our Military Has to Fly Coach Then so Should Congress Act.

The bill would limit lawmakers and their staffs to booking coach seats when traveling on the taxpayer dime, except when disability or medical problems may require first class air travel.

“At a time of massive deficits and with a national debt in excess of $17 trillion, members of Congress should not be using taxpayers’ hard-earned money to buy luxury airline seats,” Gosar said.

He added, “If members of our military can’t fly first class using taxpayer funds, neither should members of Congress.”

The legislation may have been a response to a bill introduced last week by Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) which only limited the amount of taxpayer funds that Congressmen could use for first class travel.

“As members of Congress, we lead by example,” Duckworth said. “With so many working families out there trying to make ends meet, it’s important that we not spend tax payer dollars on luxuries like first class air travel. This bill is a small step we can take to show the American people we are here to work for them.”

In a statement introducing the new, stricter first class travel ban for Congress, Barrow said, “It’s not enough to give lip service to cutting wasteful spending — we should set a good example. And not spending other people’s money on first class travel is a good place to start.”