Nancy Pelosi Wants a Big Jet; Pentagon Makes a Counter Offer

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came under fire from the Pentagon and Republicans on Wednesday by requesting access to an Air Force transport plane much larger than the plane used by former Speaker Dennis Hastert. Pelosi asked for access to a C-32 plane, which is a military version of the Boeing 757-200.

At issue is not the request for a military plane, because Hastert flew in a military jet as well during his tenure. But his transport was a small commuter-sized jet, not a huge transport plane. The commercial version of the airplane Pelosi has asked for seats more than 200 people.

Republicans say that the request is an extravagance of power and that it won’t sit well with American taxpayers. Rep. Adam Putnam of Florida, the No. 3 Republican leader in the House, said that he supports the Speaker of the House having access to a secure airplane with secure communications in the post-9/11 era, but within reason. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Pentagon began providing the House speaker, who is second in the line of presidential succession, with a secure military plane for trips home.

Pelosi and her aides claim that because her congressional district is California, she needs a large plane that can fly nonstop coast to coast without refueling. "It’s not a question of size, it’s a question of distance," Pelosi said. "We want an aircraft that can reach California." Some Republicans, however, feel that the larger plane might be used for Pelosi to offer trips to her largest political donors as a reward for contributing to her campaign.

The guidelines used by the Pentagon for military transport of the speaker say that Pelosi can be accompanied by family members if they pay the government coach fare, but the plane cannot be used for travel to political events.

Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, a spokesman for the Pentagon, responded to Pelosi’s request by saying that she would be provided with a military plane, but its size will be based on availability. Gordon told Pelosi’s staff that she would be offered "shuttle service for no more than 10 passengers between Washington and San Francisco based on aircraft availability." Gordon added, "This does not guarantee nonstop transport."