Q: When an incumbent president travels on Air Force One while campaigning for re-election, do the taxpayers pick up the tab for the aircraft, Secret Service, local law enforcement, etc.? — Russ Desmelik, Cumming
A: Presidents are required to reimburse the taxpayers for a certain percentage of the travel expenses they accrue while campaigning, The Associated Press reported in April. It costs $179,750 an hour to operate Air Force One, according to the Pentagon, but President Barack Obama has to repay the "government for air travel under a formula that's based on what it would cost to charter a Boeing 737," according to the article. The campaign also pays a discounted rate on the people who are traveling on Air Force One for political purposes. "Obama is the first president to pay for re-election travel under updated rules adopted by the Federal Election Commission in 2009 to implement a lobbying and ethics reform law passed by Congress in 2007," the article stated. President George W. Bush's campaign and the Republican Party paid more than $1.3 million for airlift operations, the article stated. Obama had paid $1.5 million by late April. The new rules require Obama to pay "significantly more" than his campaign would have had to pay under the past rules. Author Brendan Doherty, an assistant professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, told the AP that "these White Houses aren't doing anything wrong." He added that presidents wouldn't go anywhere for political reasons if they had to repay the real costs of campaign travel.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
