My must read of the day is "Bill would ban lawmakers from flying first class using taxpayer dollars," on FoxNews.com:
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation aimed at preventing members of Congress from flying first class using taxpayer funds.
The bill, titled, "If Our Military Has to Fly Coach Then so Should Congress Act," was introduced by Reps. Paul Gosar, (R., Ariz.); Raul Ruiz, (D., Calif.); John Barrow (D., Ga.); and Walter Jones (R., N.C.), in a bid to end the purchase of first-class flight seats with taxpayer money.
"All it does is prohibit members of Congress from using taxpayer funds to purchase first class airfare," Gosar said in a statement. "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."
The measure seeks to implement the same restrictions for air travel for members of Congress and their staff that are required for travel by White House employees.
Theoretically this sounds like a great bill. It’s certainly reasonable, but the title makes it feel condescending. It’s one of those bills with a catchy name that will certainly look good in reelection bids. If you asked someone, "If the military has to fly in coach—should people who work in Congress have to?" No one in their right mind would say no.
Lawmakers shouldn’t be flying first class on the taxpayer’s dime in general. Why not vote on that? Instead, they drum up the bill with a beguiling title and it’s annoying political pandering.
They are right. Elected officials and their staff should only fly coach unless they want to pay for the flight out of their own pocket, and it’s especially true when you consider that our military members don’t get to. But that last part should not matter. Congress should simply agree that it’s inappropriate to use taxpayer money on something so redundant.