Push for transparency continues with Cassidy’s charter flight resolution

Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) continued his push for more government transparency, introducing a Charter Flight Transparency Resolution on Monday that would require both members of the U.S. House and Senate to report when Congressional funds are used for private chartered planes.

Information, including the purpose of the flight and the cost to taxpayers, would be reported within 30 days of the flight.

“Taking charter planes unnecessarily is a waste of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars,” Cassidy said. “It makes no sense to fly on a $3,000 private jet if you can get to the same location in a few hours’ drive time and a $50 tank of gas.”

The resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Ethics and to the Committee on House Administration, calls for Congressional members to report the following information if a members’ representational allowance is used for a charter flight: the amount paid from the allowance, the destinations covered by the flight and a statement describing the purpose of taking the flight, including any reason why the purpose could not be met by taking a commercial flight.

Cassidy previously introduced the Eliminating Government-Funded Oil-Painting Act to prohibit tax dollars from being used for commemorative oil portraits of federal administration officials and members of Congress.