Darman Says Bush’s Political Use of Air Force One Is Justified

The Bush Administration is scouring its operations to stop unjustified “perks,” but draws the line at any suggestion that the President curtail political use of Air Force One, Budget Director Richard G. Darman said Wednesday.

“The public is rightly disturbed about some patterns it sees in Congress and the executive branch,” Darman said at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees White House spending.

But he said Americans draw a distinction between Bush, who has a right to “the dignity of the office,” and lesser officials “who are trying to act like presidents.”

The subcommittee chairman, Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.), disputed a White House practice of requiring reimbursement of the equivalent of first-class air fare for political travel. The President’s specially modified Boeing 747 costs $25,000 an hour to operate, he said.

“To me, there’s something wrong,” DeConcini said. “If the President uses this and mixes politics with official business, the politics has to pay the real cost.”

Darman said, however, that Bush, even when traveling for political purposes, cannot escape his duties as commander in chief and needs a coterie of personnel and equipment. He does not have the option of using commercial flights, Darman noted.

Charging the Bush reelection campaign, or other candidates on whose behalf the President travels, the full cost of Air Force One would be prohibitive and put the incumbent at a disadvantage to a Democratic opponent, Darman contended.

Darman, asked about the Administration’s leased executive cars, health and physical fitness centers and executive dining rooms, offered few specifics.

Other officials provided details of the White House’s $8.3-million budget for this year, which includes a staff of 40 domestics, 34 tradesmen, five florists, five curators, five ushers and five calligraphers. Next year’s budget includes $50,000 to refurbish the White House family quarters.

Darman said he had asked all executive branch agencies to scrutinize their budgets for any employee benefit that might be deemed excessive or unnecessary.