Expensive Commuting

How many citizens travel to and from work in an airplane at the expense of others?

The figures are unknown at this point, but based on reports we have received there are apparently quite a few traveling from Chicago to Springfield at taxpayers expense.

According to reports, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will spend over $7 million to operate the state’s $22 million fleet of aircraft in the current fiscal year. In FY 2011, IDOT spent approximately $6 million on the fleet, while spending $5.4 million in FY 2010. Illinois maintains a fleet of 16 aircraft, including six executive aircraft. The State pays for daily air shuttles between Chicago and Springfield; back and forth in the morning and the evening.

State Representative Kent Gaffney, R-52, says that the State has a backlog of $8 billion in unpaid bills. The main purpose of the state fleet is to fly the Governor and top state officials round trip from Chicago to Springfield. Most of the state officials use their own vehicles to commute to and from the State capitol.

It costs $3,000 an hour to fly the state’s executive aircraft to and from Chicago. Rep. Gaffney believes the fleet of executive aircraft should be grounded until the backlog of unpaid bills is paid.

Rep. Gaffney notes, “Most states do not have such a large air fleet at their disposal.” Last year, New Mexico sold their state jet for $2.5 million; our fleet is worth $22 million. There are plenty of schools and hospitals that could use that money more than government officials looking for a free ride,” says Gaffney.

Rep. Gaffney is co-sponsoring legislation (HB 4019) to ground the state fleet until the State has paid off its backlog of bills. The legislation does not include aircraft used for emergency purposes.