This Year's Version of the House Bank Scandal

Those who remember the 1994 election will remember the effect the House Bank and House Post Office scandals had on the election. Both created an impression of an imperial congress that granted itself privileges not available to average people, and it cost the Democrats dearly.

Nancy Pelosi may be creating this year's version of those scandals (from Doug Ross):

Is it a legitimate use of military jets to transport the Speaker of the House and her favored Congressional coterie for routine travel? Even if you believe it is -- and, personally, I do not -- any rational taxpayer would admit that it is monumental waste of money. Military flights cost between $5,000 and $20,000 per hour to operate. The Speaker and her passengers routinely reimburse the Air Force $120 to $400 for each flight.

Since Nancy Pelosi took over as Speaker in 2006, she's rung up millions in military travel expenses to commute between San Francisco and Washington.

Worse still, she also appears to have requisitioned entire flights for the personal use of her children and grandchildren. That is, unaccompanied by any member of Congress, her kids, in-laws and grandchildren are utilizing entire military passenger jets for their routine travel needs.

Doug has the documentation at the link. This is abuse of the system, pure and simple. There is no reason for Pelosi's family members to be using Air Force transport other than to avoid airport hassles and get a first class ride for coach money.