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Kerry, Kennedy Enjoy Corporate Jet Perks
Sen. Edward Kennedy was whisked to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic aboard a Fisher Scientific International Inc. corporate jet last winter. Sen. John Kerry and two political aides flew from Salt Lake City to a retreat for campaign donors and staff at his family's Ketchum, Idaho, vacation home last fall on a plane supplied by Boston Capital, a nationally prominent real estate financing and investment firm. Such flights are a cherished perk for many members of Congress, who can avoid the hassles of long airport security lines and crowded commercial planes. Private air charters can cost thousands of dollars per hour. But under Senate rules, lawmakers are only required to pay the equivalent of first-class commercial airfare for flights aboard private jets owned by companies or individuals.
Story Continues Below As Congress embraces sweeping lobbying reforms amid the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal, some lawmakers are calling for a crackdown on such travel practices. The sweeping lobbying reform plan proposed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., includes a provision to make lawmakers pay the full charter cost of flights aboard corporate jets. Campaign watchdog groups say the discounted flights, while legal, are often a backdoor way for corporations and other special interests with important issues before Congress to curry favor with lawmakers. "It's a very big perk for members (of Congress) and a very big lobbying tool for companies," said Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. Kennedy, D-Mass., reimbursed Fisher $2,097 for his trip, which included visits with a nephew, Peace Corps volunteers and the Puerto Rican governor's inaugural. New Hampshire-based Fisher is a Fortune 500 firm providing products and services to the scientific community. Fisher spokeswoman Gia Oei said the company on "rare occasions" makes its corporate aircraft available to lawmakers. "In order to maintain his 97 percent voting record in the Senate, there are minimal times throughout the year when private travel is necessary," said Kennedy spokeswoman Melissa Wagoner. "Senator Kennedy's record in the Senate is a clear indication that special interests don't influence him or his positions on legislation."
Last February, Kennedy flew on a jet provided by U.S. Strategies Corp., a national government relations and strategic planning firm, as part of a Florida fundraising trip. He paid $495. The firm's CEO was aboard. The senior senator also flew Fisher's jet from Philadelphia to Hyannis last April for a fundraising event. His payment was $663. Kerry, D-Mass., reimbursed Boston Capital $1,119 for the Idaho flight. "He only takes another plane when nothing else works in a very full schedule or other flights aren't available," said Kerry spokeswoman April Boyd. Boston Capital chief executive Jack Manning is a longtime Kerry supporter and fundraiser. Kerry flew a Boston Capital jet from Washington D.C. to Boston in September on the night before he was to help deliver emergency supplies to Hurricane Katrina victims on donated jets from other companies. Kennedy and Kerry each took three trips in 2005 on corporate aircraft that they reimbursed at equivalent first-class fare rates. They paid with campaign funds. The companies have not asked the senators for any legislative favors, aides said. In Massachusetts, Gov. Mitt Romney sparked controversy recently after flying to a Republican Governors Association meeting aboard a private jet supplied by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Inc. while a major health care bill was pending on Beacon Hill. Romney, the new president of the RGA, said Pfizer was not a party to the legislative deliberations. He also noted the aircraft travel is reported to the IRS, as are cash and other in-kind donations to the governors' association, which arranged the trip. Kerry also travels on his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry's private jet. His campaign pays for political trips aboard the plane, but not when he is on official Senate business, according to Boyd.
In past years, Kennedy has flown aboard aboard jets provided by Coca-Cola Co., FedEx Express Corp., defense giant Raytheon Co., American Family Life Assurance Co. and the International Union of Bricklayers.
© 2006 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Editor's note:
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