Arkansas companies offer jets to political candidates
Thursday, Mar 16, 2006
By Alison Vekshin
Stephens Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- When Rep. Henry Bonilla needed to fly to Amarillo, Texas, to attend a fund-raiser in March 2004, he did not have to wait in a lengthy security line to squeeze past other passengers onto a commercial flight.
Instead, the Texas Republican lawmaker called on Tyson Foods Inc. and boarded a private jet owned by the Springdale-based meat and poultry giant, which sponsored the Amarillo event with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
The Arkansas company had reason to want to help Bonilla. As chairman of a House agriculture subcommittee, Bonilla has successfully led an effort in Congress to postpone mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for meat, which Tyson also opposes because of the enormous costs involved.
The flight illustrates a practice that has come under growing scrutiny as Congress focuses on what has been criticized as the seemingly cozy relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists.
Members of Congress and President Bush have hitched rides on corporate jets at least 2,150 times between 2001 and 2005, according to an analysis by Political Money Line, a Washington-based campaign finance watchdog group.
Leading companies that make their aircraft available include Mephis-based FedEx Corp., Dallas-based law firm Baron & Budd and UST Inc., a Connecticut-based smokeless tobacco manufacturer.
Tyson Foods made one of its corporate jets available seven times between 2001 and 2005, all to Republicans including twice to Bonilla, according to the analysis which was based on public reports that lawmakers file with the Federal Election Commission.
Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson declined to provide details of the trips, including whether Tyson employees were on the flights. He also declined to say how many planes the company owns.
"From time to time, we receive requests from members of Congress for the use of corporate aircraft," Mickelson said in an e-mail statement.
"However, we can tell you that on those occasions when we accommodate such a request, it is not related to any particular issue and that the company is always reimbursed for the cost as required by federal law," Mickelson said.
For Bonilla's part, chief of staff Marc Lubin said the San Antonio-based lawmaker represents a sprawling West Texas district where commercial flights are not always easily accessible.
"Representing a state the size of Texas necessitates Congressman Bonilla utilize all transportation options," Lubin said.
Other Arkansas companies that have flown lawmakers include Alltel Corp., the Little Rock-based telecommunications company, and Realty Associates Brokerage in Jonesboro.
Campaign-finance watchdogs criticized the practice. Among the problems, they point out that lawmakers are required to reimburse the companies only for a comparable first-class commercial airfare while the actual cost of a charter flight is usually exponentially higher.
They say the practice exists because it is mutually beneficial for corporations and lawmakers. Lawmakers give up the hassles of flying commercial for the comforts of a private jet. Companies get valuable access to lawmakers who have influence over critical issues that affect their bottom lines.
Craig Holman, a representative of Public Citizen, which was founded by Ralph Nader, said a charter flight usually costs 10 times more than a first-class airline ticket depending on the type of jet flown.
"What a better way to try to endear yourself to federal office holders than flying this office holder in a luxurious jet all across the country and helping finance his or her campaign," Holman said.
The companies usually provide one of their lobbyists to accompany the lawmaker on the flight, allowing for valuable face-time, said Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign-finance watchdog group.
Since the eruption of scandal surrounding disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, lawmakers eager to distance themselves from the appearance of corruption have begun talking about cracking down on lobbying practices, although actual legislation has been slow to take shape.
One amendment that has been proposed would increase disclosure requirements for corporate flights and would require lawmakers to pay full charter rates for their flights.
Under Federal Election Commission regulations, lawmakers are required to provide only sparse details of corporate jet trips, including the cost per trip and the company reimbursed. They are not required to report a list of passengers, the trip itinerary or other details.
Bonilla reimbursed Tyson Foods nearly $3,000 for two flights in 2004, while Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, paid Tyson $1,300 for a trip in 2004, according to records they filed.
The National Republican Congressional Committee, the fund-raising arm of House Republicans, used Tyson aircraft four times in 2005. The committee paid Tyson $17,187.
NRCC spokesman Carl Forti declined to discuss details of the committee's use of Tyson aircraft. He said the committee chooses to use a corporate plane "because it's available."
"Sometimes it is easier to use corporate jets because they don't fly on a set schedule and you could do more stops than you could otherwise fit if you were flying commercial," Forti said.
Forti dismissed assertions that using the jets puts lawmakers in a position to be lobbied by corporations.
"Having traveled with members when they have to travel so much, I'm not sure they are in a good mood," he said. "I'm not sure how receptive they would be to lobbyist pitches at that point."
In November 2003, Alltel flew then-Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., round-trip from Washington to Greensboro, Ga., where they attended a fund-raiser for Chambliss. The senators paid $4,320.
Alltel spokesman Andrew Moreau said the flight was arranged in response to a request from the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
"The benefit was to work with the trade association," Moreau said.
Moreau declined to say whether any Alltel employees were on the flight.
Realty Associates Brokerage flew Rep. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, from Jonesboro to Augusta, Ga., for a campaign event in October 2004 and was reimbursed $1,211.
Berry's office said the plane was used because it was available on short notice.
Berry "is a friend of ours," said Bruce Burrow, president of MBC Holdings LLC, which owns Realty Associates Brokerage.
"It seemed to me his schedule was very tight and I volunteered that he could use our plane to make that happen," Burrow said, adding that no one from the company was on the flight.
Thursday, Mar 16, 2006
By Alison Vekshin
Stephens Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- When Rep. Henry Bonilla needed to fly to Amarillo, Texas, to attend a fund-raiser in March 2004, he did not have to wait in a lengthy security line to squeeze past other passengers onto a commercial flight.
Instead, the Texas Republican lawmaker called on Tyson Foods Inc. and boarded a private jet owned by the Springdale-based meat and poultry giant, which sponsored the Amarillo event with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
The Arkansas company had reason to want to help Bonilla. As chairman of a House agriculture subcommittee, Bonilla has successfully led an effort in Congress to postpone mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for meat, which Tyson also opposes because of the enormous costs involved.
The flight illustrates a practice that has come under growing scrutiny as Congress focuses on what has been criticized as the seemingly cozy relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists.
Members of Congress and President Bush have hitched rides on corporate jets at least 2,150 times between 2001 and 2005, according to an analysis by Political Money Line, a Washington-based campaign finance watchdog group.
Leading companies that make their aircraft available include Mephis-based FedEx Corp., Dallas-based law firm Baron & Budd and UST Inc., a Connecticut-based smokeless tobacco manufacturer.
Tyson Foods made one of its corporate jets available seven times between 2001 and 2005, all to Republicans including twice to Bonilla, according to the analysis which was based on public reports that lawmakers file with the Federal Election Commission.
Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson declined to provide details of the trips, including whether Tyson employees were on the flights. He also declined to say how many planes the company owns.
"From time to time, we receive requests from members of Congress for the use of corporate aircraft," Mickelson said in an e-mail statement.
"However, we can tell you that on those occasions when we accommodate such a request, it is not related to any particular issue and that the company is always reimbursed for the cost as required by federal law," Mickelson said.
For Bonilla's part, chief of staff Marc Lubin said the San Antonio-based lawmaker represents a sprawling West Texas district where commercial flights are not always easily accessible.
"Representing a state the size of Texas necessitates Congressman Bonilla utilize all transportation options," Lubin said.
Other Arkansas companies that have flown lawmakers include Alltel Corp., the Little Rock-based telecommunications company, and Realty Associates Brokerage in Jonesboro.
Campaign-finance watchdogs criticized the practice. Among the problems, they point out that lawmakers are required to reimburse the companies only for a comparable first-class commercial airfare while the actual cost of a charter flight is usually exponentially higher.
They say the practice exists because it is mutually beneficial for corporations and lawmakers. Lawmakers give up the hassles of flying commercial for the comforts of a private jet. Companies get valuable access to lawmakers who have influence over critical issues that affect their bottom lines.
Craig Holman, a representative of Public Citizen, which was founded by Ralph Nader, said a charter flight usually costs 10 times more than a first-class airline ticket depending on the type of jet flown.
"What a better way to try to endear yourself to federal office holders than flying this office holder in a luxurious jet all across the country and helping finance his or her campaign," Holman said.
The companies usually provide one of their lobbyists to accompany the lawmaker on the flight, allowing for valuable face-time, said Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign-finance watchdog group.
Since the eruption of scandal surrounding disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, lawmakers eager to distance themselves from the appearance of corruption have begun talking about cracking down on lobbying practices, although actual legislation has been slow to take shape.
One amendment that has been proposed would increase disclosure requirements for corporate flights and would require lawmakers to pay full charter rates for their flights.
Under Federal Election Commission regulations, lawmakers are required to provide only sparse details of corporate jet trips, including the cost per trip and the company reimbursed. They are not required to report a list of passengers, the trip itinerary or other details.
Bonilla reimbursed Tyson Foods nearly $3,000 for two flights in 2004, while Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, paid Tyson $1,300 for a trip in 2004, according to records they filed.
The National Republican Congressional Committee, the fund-raising arm of House Republicans, used Tyson aircraft four times in 2005. The committee paid Tyson $17,187.
NRCC spokesman Carl Forti declined to discuss details of the committee's use of Tyson aircraft. He said the committee chooses to use a corporate plane "because it's available."
"Sometimes it is easier to use corporate jets because they don't fly on a set schedule and you could do more stops than you could otherwise fit if you were flying commercial," Forti said.
Forti dismissed assertions that using the jets puts lawmakers in a position to be lobbied by corporations.
"Having traveled with members when they have to travel so much, I'm not sure they are in a good mood," he said. "I'm not sure how receptive they would be to lobbyist pitches at that point."
In November 2003, Alltel flew then-Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., round-trip from Washington to Greensboro, Ga., where they attended a fund-raiser for Chambliss. The senators paid $4,320.
Alltel spokesman Andrew Moreau said the flight was arranged in response to a request from the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
"The benefit was to work with the trade association," Moreau said.
Moreau declined to say whether any Alltel employees were on the flight.
Realty Associates Brokerage flew Rep. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, from Jonesboro to Augusta, Ga., for a campaign event in October 2004 and was reimbursed $1,211.
Berry's office said the plane was used because it was available on short notice.
Berry "is a friend of ours," said Bruce Burrow, president of MBC Holdings LLC, which owns Realty Associates Brokerage.
"It seemed to me his schedule was very tight and I volunteered that he could use our plane to make that happen," Burrow said, adding that no one from the company was on the flight.