Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) spoke on the House floor on Friday in regards to wasteful federal spending, noting unnecessary spending levels occurring with Air Force One.
“When the wheels of Air Force One are up, the meter is on and I’m talking about a heap of taxpayer dollars,” Coble said. “The most updated figure on the cost of operating Air Force One is in excess of $179,000 per hour, but this is a tiny fraction of the president’s foreign travel plans, which includes backup aircraft, aerial tankers, motor transport, security and diplomatic personnel accommodations and advance teams.”
President Barack Obama is the second-most traveled president of all time.
Coble said First Lady Michelle Obama’s travels, including trips to Ireland, Africa, Western Europe and Copenhagen, in addition to the president’s swelling entourage size, also adds to the increasing costs to taxpayers.
“I’m not suggesting that we compromise safety or security, but the first family, it seems to me, treats Air Force One and related aircraft as their personal toys, a very expensive toy, I might add,” Coble said.
Coble sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. He is North Carolina’s longest serving Republican member in the House.