McCain "Frequent Flyer" On Wife's Corporate Jet

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Mr. Campaign Finance Reform himself has enjoyed significant savings by using his wife's corporate jet for many campaign trips taken between August of last year and this February. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/us/politics/27plane.html?_r=1&oref=slogin McCain recently backed legislation which requires campaigns to pay charter rates when using such jets rather than cheaper first-class fares, was intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists and create a level financial playing field. However, McCain’s campaign paid a total of $241,149 for the use of that plane from last August through February, records show, which is approximately the cost of chartering a similar jet for a month or two, according to industry estimates. Here's an excerpt from the linked article: "The senator was able to fly so inexpensively because the law specifically exempts aircraft owned by a candidate or his family or by a privately held company they control. The Federal Election Commission adopted rules in December to close the loophole — rules that would have required substantial payments by candidates using family-owned planes — but the agency soon lost the requisite number of commissioners needed to complete the rule making. Because that exemption remains, Mr. McCain’s campaign was able to use his wife’s corporate plane like a charter jet while paying first-class rates, several campaign finance experts said. Several of those experts, however, added that his campaign’s actions, while keeping with the letter of law, did not reflect its spirit. “This amounts to a subsidy for his campaign, which is notable given how badly they were struggling last year,” said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that collects and analyzes campaign data." It appears McCain has broken two of his campaign pledges at once - not to use corporate jets and not to exploit his wife's massive fortune for his campaign. The "straight talk express" travels by first class only! Annie