Glad to hear he made it safely. But I do have to ask the obvious question. Did we not see the captains of Industry get lambasted for using corporate jets to fly to DC? Is not the Indiana plane the same thing if the Guv is our CEO? And is he not going to DC to talk about bailout money? I would be intrigued to know how many Gov’s are flying to this conference on state owned private planes? Both R’s and D’s.

Peace.

He took the airplane because it was too cold to ride the Harley to DC

Not long ago, his wife won the State Fair spitting contest. Maybe she was practising and broke the windshielf.

What other governors are gonna be on the program? I’m curious, because Indiana is in a unique position ragarding stimulus money.
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Specifically, the Indiana position is that the current governors administration revised the property tax rules, resuling in extremely high property taxes. As expected, the people pushed back and demanded lower property taxes and the Governor used that expected response to drive a 1% property tax cap.
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Without providing an alternative funding mechanism to keep municipalities functional.
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At the same time, the governor is also pushing all of Indiana townships to eliminate local elected officials and to consolidate under county government – as a cost savings measure. A 1% property tax cap that ultimately makes local government insolvent is a great tool to generate public support for that effort.
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So it’s too bad that we didn’t get to see how Daniels will spin the current financial situation in Indiana. One thing is for sure. Daniels will take the money. He’s proven himself to be a centralist in favor of top-down management rather than a republican (lower case “r”) in favor of our republican system and representative government.

Shore, here’s a surprise. We agree, except:

Your whole “republic”- “an” argument isn’t correct. Please don’t let your enthusiasm for lower taxes, which I share, re-write history. The Republican Party does not own the idea that our government needs to be fiscally responsible.

Unless you disown George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. Whose collective fiscal policies betrayed just about everything that’s holy.

TA – I used republican with a lower case “r”, meaning not the GOP, but our republican system of government. FYI – adherence to current Dem or GOP platforms is opposition to the system established by the US Constitution.

BigDawg, the governor’s plane is not a private jet like the CEOs fly in. It is a twin turboprop Beechcraft Kingair, and I gaurantee that it isn’t anything fancy.

Looks like there are strings attached to at least some parts of the ‘bailout’ money.
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The Louisiana governor said as much, and stated his people are looking at the plan, perhaps to see what parts they’ll accept, and what pars they’ll jettison.
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I really wish the States would quit prostituting themselves to the national government.

Statler, I have flown on a King Air have you? While it is not a jet it is a pretty nice turbo prop flown by many corporations here in Indiana. My point was if we are also taking money from the stimulus should we also not be flying commercial? But if you want to debate planes I can have that chat…..let’s have it on a Hawker.

So using your logic, the President should ground Air Force One as well as all the support planes that have to accompany it with vehicles AND helicopters inside of them, and he should fly coach with no extra expenses for secret service agents. I mean, we ARE in an economic crisis, aren’t we?

Who owns the MOST and uses THE MOST private jets in this country at OUR EXPENSE? A hint…it ain’t the CEO’s of the banks or auto makers.

And to answer your question, I have never flown on any aircraft smaller than a MD80, but I have seen the plane the governor flies in. It belongs to the Syaye Police, and it isn’t anything special like a Lear Jet or anything.

oops….fat fingers syndrome…. STATE police.

Statler: please don’t go there.

The President flies in heavily-armed and secured aircraft, with top-flight communications equipment, because he is the leader of the free world.

Daniels should’ve flown commercial. Period. I’ve seen the gov’s plane, too. It’s fanciness isn’t the issue. The operational cost is the issue. About $4500/hour, I hear.

This shouldn’t even be an issue. It’s pretty cut-and-dried.

How did all the other governors get there?

Good question, John. I don’t know. It doesn’t change the situation though. Danniels should’ve flown commercial.

As a taxpayer, I’d even support first-class for the gov.

But the private plane should be reserved for special situations. This wasn’t one. In Florida, today’s Miami Herald is all abuzz about the governor’s and LG’s plane trips and the cost.

Taxpayers do not appreciate paying for private planes in times like this.