It seems Rep. Pelosi is using her position as House Speaker to press for special transportation privileges. Not only for herself (as 2nd in line to the Presidency), but family members as well...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070201-122225-1157r.htmHIGHLIGHTS:
Speaker Pursues Military Flights
By Rowan Scarborough - THE WASHINGTON TIMES
February 1, 2007
The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pressing the Bush administration for routine access to military aircraft for domestic flights, such as trips back to her San Francisco district, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The sources...said the Democrat is seeking regular military flights not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation. A knowledgeable source called the request "carte blanche for an aircraft any time."
"They are pressing the point of her succession and that the [Department of Defense] needs to play ball with the speaker's needs," one source said...
Mrs. Pelosi's request is not new for a speaker, who is second-in-line in presidential succession. A defense source said the speaker's regular access to a military plane began after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Rep. J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican, who was speaker at the time, started using U.S. Air Force planes for domestic travel to and from his district for security reasons...
Sources said Mrs. Pelosi's request goes beyond what Mr. Hastert received. The speaker's legal counsel is spearheading the talks.
An aide to Mrs. Pelosi, who asked not to be named, confirmed yesterday that discussions are ongoing ...
...Mrs. Pelosi just completed a fact-finding trip to Afghanistan and Iraq. Upon her return, she repeated her demand that President Bush not send more troops to Iraq.
