05-01-2008, 08:54 PM
From TBO.com:
Given Sen. John McCain's signature stance on campaign finance reform, it was not surprising that he backed legislation last year requiring presidential candidates to pay the actual cost of flying on corporate jets.
The law, which requires campaigns to pay charter rates when using such jets rather than cheaper first-class fares, was intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists and create a level financial playing field.
But during a seven-month period beginning last summer, McCain's cash-short campaign gave itself an advantage by using a corporate jet owned by a company headed by his wife, Cindy, according to public records.
McCain's campaign paid a total of $241,149 for the use of that plane from August through February, records show. That amount is approximately the cost of chartering a similar jet for a month or two, according to industry estimates.
The senator was able to fly so inexpensively because the law specifically exempts aircraft owned by a candidate or his family or by a privately held company they control.
The Federal Election Commission adopted rules in December to close the loophole - rules that would have required substantial payments by candidates using family-owned planes - but the agency soon lost the requisite number of commissioners needed to complete the rule-making.
Because that exemption remains, McCain's campaign was able to use his wife's corporate plane like a charter jet while paying first-class rates, several campaign finance experts said.
McCain was not available to be interviewed, a campaign spokeswoman said. In response to written questions, the spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, said his campaign had acted legally and ethically in paying first-class airfares for Cindy McCain's corporate aircraft.
Given Sen. John McCain's signature stance on campaign finance reform, it was not surprising that he backed legislation last year requiring presidential candidates to pay the actual cost of flying on corporate jets.
The law, which requires campaigns to pay charter rates when using such jets rather than cheaper first-class fares, was intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists and create a level financial playing field.
But during a seven-month period beginning last summer, McCain's cash-short campaign gave itself an advantage by using a corporate jet owned by a company headed by his wife, Cindy, according to public records.
McCain's campaign paid a total of $241,149 for the use of that plane from August through February, records show. That amount is approximately the cost of chartering a similar jet for a month or two, according to industry estimates.
The senator was able to fly so inexpensively because the law specifically exempts aircraft owned by a candidate or his family or by a privately held company they control.
The Federal Election Commission adopted rules in December to close the loophole - rules that would have required substantial payments by candidates using family-owned planes - but the agency soon lost the requisite number of commissioners needed to complete the rule-making.
Because that exemption remains, McCain's campaign was able to use his wife's corporate plane like a charter jet while paying first-class rates, several campaign finance experts said.
McCain was not available to be interviewed, a campaign spokeswoman said. In response to written questions, the spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, said his campaign had acted legally and ethically in paying first-class airfares for Cindy McCain's corporate aircraft.