Chicago Republicans

The following Letter to the Editor appeared on pages 10-11 of the Sept., 2011, edition of "Business & Commercial Aviation."  It may have also appeared elsewhere, since it was submitted to several aviation publications, some of which expressed interest.


President Barack Obama demonizes those who fly on business jets, as though it was the ultimate in luxury.  The fact of the matter is that these jets enable executives to conduct company business more expeditiously.  If they use the jets for personal business (such as a trip to a resort for a weekend), or if a family member, not connected with the company, accompanies them on a business trip, the value of the trip must be reported as income for tax purposes.  Some companies may even require some type of reimbursement for the cost of the flight.

When the president flies on Air Force One to conduct the business of the nation, he is using it for the purpose for which it was intended.  Unfortunately, presidents have grown accustomed to treating the aircraft as a perk of the office.  Obama flies to various cities for political fund-raisers, with the amount of money raised far surpassed by the cost of the flight (plus the cost of security, meals, accommodations, etc.), and the taxpayers pick up the tab.  When he flew to Chicago to celebrate his 50th birthday, the taxpayers also paid for it.

When Obama uses Air Force One, the ultimate business jet, for non-government business, he should report it as income on his tax return, and he should reimburse our financially strapped government.  This of course, would put him into bankruptcy.