Russert failed to challenge Boehner's misleading claim on Pelosi jet

On the February 11 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert let go unchallenged House Minority Leader John Boehner's (R-OH) misleading claim that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) asked for a "bigger plane" to fly to and from her district because she wanted "supporters and friends and others" to join her. Boehner said "concerns were elevated ... when she started to talk about taking family, staff, the supporters, and other members on her trip with her." In fact, Pelosi said, "It has nothing to do with family and friends, and everything to do about the security." The House sergeant at arms wrote that it was his recommendation that Pelosi fly in a military aircraft "that is capable of making nonstop flights" to and from her district, "unless such an aircraft is unavailable." As Media Matters for America previously documented, Pelosi's staff has stated she "will not use the plane for political travel."

Furthermore, according to rules established by the Pentagon, the speaker's family may fly on the aircraft but must reimburse the government. Members of Congress must obtain permission from the ethics committee. Only the spouse of the speaker may fly without charge for "official protocol purposes." From a February 8 Roll Call article:

The Pentagon issued further guidance to Pelosi's staff on Tuesday. She and her husband may fly military planes to her district as a "presidential courtesy," or without charge, as long as her husband is attending an event for "official protocol purposes," [Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Brian] Maka said.

The new Speaker may request, in writing, that other members of her family fly on the plane, but they must reimburse the government at coach rate for the flight and for incidentals such as meals.

Other Members of Congress may not travel on the plane without the express consent of the ethics committee, which would determine reimbursement rates.

Boehner's comments also misleadingly suggest that by flying with family, staff, or other members of Congress, Pelosi would be changing practices established by her predecessor, former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL). In fact, the Los Angeles Times reported: "Hastert, according to a military official, usually traveled with up to three staff members and two members of the Capitol Police. Occasionally his wife, Jean, came along too." Also, Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet indicated that Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) accompanied Hastert on at least one government flight from Illinois to Washington, after Shimkus' staff received an "urgent call" from the Republican leadership requesting his presence the next day at a Washington press conference on the House page scandal. According to The New York Times, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) "said he had flown on Mr. Hastert's military plane."

As Media Matters noted, former and current aides to Hastert and the Republican leadership have made misleading claims regarding Hastert's use of military aircraft when he was speaker. These anonymous aides claimed Hastert's staff and family only irregularly, "occasionally," "sometimes," or "at times" accompanied him on flights and did not address whether members of Hastert's state delegation ever flew with him.

From the February 11 edition of NBC's Meet the Press:

RUSSERT: Let me turn to the whole issue of Speaker Pelosi. When she became speaker, she was given access to an airplane because, after September 11th -- president, vice president, speaker of the House, in terms of succession to the presidency -- Speaker Dennis Hastert, her predecessor, was given a plane to fly back and forth to his district in Illinois. Speaker Pelosi lives in California, so it'd take a different kind of airplane to make that flight nonstop. The Republican National Committee put out this: "Pelosi's Power Trip: 'Non-Stop' Nancy Seeks Flight of Fancy." And your colleagues in the House, Mr. Boehner, "Republic Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida said Mrs. Pelosi's request represents 'an arrogance of office that just defies common sense,' and called it 'a major deviation from the previous speaker.' Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri called it a 'flying Lincoln bedroom.' " What's, what's that all about?

BOEHNER: There's no question that the speaker, third in line to the president, ought to have the security of having a plane. The plane that was used for Mr. Hastert has a 4,000-nautical-mile range. So the same plane could've been used by Ms. Pelosi. Where the concerns were elevated is when she started to talk about taking family, staff, the supporters, and other members on her trip with her. And I think the taxpayers ought to provide a plane for her and her close staff. But when you start talking about supporters and other members and friends, I don't think the taxpayers ought to be held accountable for that.

RUSSERT: Now, the White House weighed in, and they're not usually willing to jump in on behalf of Nancy Pelosi's side, but this is what Tony Snow, the White House press secretary said: "This is a silly story, and I think it's been unfair to the speaker." You agree?

BOEHNER: Well, I think that, the fact that she didn't say much, most of what I know about this I read in the press. But again, when you start talking about taking supporters and friends and others, and that's why you need a bigger plane, I think there's got to be some line drawn. And I think that the G5 [Gulfstream aircraft] that the speaker [Hastert] used will get to California and back, and it's got 12 seats, plenty of room for her and her staff and security.

RUSSERT: Why not a 12-seat plane, which would be a very small part of the cost of a much larger plane?

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STENY HOYER (D-MD): Tim, this is -- this is much ado about nothing. Tony Snow, as you pointed out, said this is silly. The Republicans are frustrated because we've been so successful in the first month at doing our new direction, at doing six for '06. We had an average 62 Republicans vote for those bills, 124 for the bringing down college expenses for students and their families. The fact of the matter is, they were looking for something. The Sergeant at Arms suggested to the Defense Department that this was necessary for the speaker's security. The speaker didn't ask for this. All of this other stuff that's being added on is for political purposes, not for substantive purposes. Obviously, Speaker Hastert was flown to his destination, which was 1,000 miles closer than Ms. Pelosi's destination, and the Defense Department and the Secret Service or the Capitol Police are making arrangements. Nancy Pelosi hasn't asked for this.