Denver, CO – Colorado lawmakers are looking at a $3 billion budget shortfall. They can start by cutting the Governor’s plane.
Of course, the budget shortfall is due to Governor Jared Polis shutting down most of the Colorado economy. Many of the restrictions that led to this budget crisis are still in place.
Admittedly, cutting the Governor’s plane is not a huge windfall in cash. It reportedly comes with a $4.2 million price tag according to FOX31.
However, the Governor’s plane is often considered a frivolous taxpayer expense.
Its use is not limited to just the Governor of Colorado. On top of that, it has a history of making flights as short as seven minutes to pick up passengers.
This is an easy expense that legislators can cut.
While they are at it, they should look at all the other wasteful items that benefit elitist elected officials rather than taxpayers. High priced meals and costly office remodels come to mind.
We find it unlikely that the Democrat legislators in charge of Colorado’s budget will cut the Governor’s state plane.
Instead, they will likely look to deplete emergency funds, create more debt, and attack the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
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As a 42 year pilot and 18 year aircraft owner I cannot agree more with the thesis of this article. Period. I flew out of Centennial Airport in Arapahoe County. Many of the the State’s planes were based their including the King Air at the Governor’s disposal. Many, many times the plane was readied for flight with crew only to be cancelled. Or, to be readied for a short flight to DIA to yes, pick up a dignitary of one type or another to do nothing but impress said dignitary. This occurred across multiple administrations, not just Polis.’ At times yes, there were completely necessary times the plane made plenty of sense. Time for that luxury to end along with all the nice Cessna 182 traffic airplanes. Those were hardly ever used to fulfill their value capacity. They were just there along with their State Patrol officer pilots. These aircraft can all easily be mothballed with long-term lubricants and protective coverages. Release the pilots back to full time patrol. If a need arises for the governor to be somewhere in a hurry, charter. Set up a small on-call contract with a Wheels- Up type company for a charter service.
Finally, with this or any governors lead time on scheduling he has plenty of time to get across the state in his state patrol chauffeured SUV. Let Mr. Polis enjoy the shape of our highway system. If he has an afternoon meeting in Durango fine, get up early and go. If it’s an early morning meeting fine, go the afternoon before. Do it like your constitutes do. Earn your living. And don’t tell me how “important” his time is. BS. There are plenty of connectivity capabilities available as he travels the state.
Bravo well said. Cut out all state junkets for any official, department head, confrence attendee, anyone.
This governor will go down in history as the lamest we have had, and we have had quite a few. From a governor who was a Klansman, a governor that ordered the National Guard to Ludlow, to a governor who may have been the driving force behind Sand Creek. Or a governor who sold the people a bill of goods on an airport that is located at one of the worst possible locations.
Polis will fit in nicely with these who were self serving, and incompetent ” leaders”.
This is all well and good unless you happen to be one of the pilots, or maintenance personnel. One would think in 42 years in aviation you would understand the importance of business aircraft. It doesn’t stop there. Not only does someone fly and maintain these aircraft, but they need to be insured, fueled, de-iced catered, etc…the trickle down effect, and the overall big economic impact of a single aircraft is staggering. Unfortunately, people don’t look at these things. I say keep the flight department, let’s trade for a better Governor.
We can drive from New Mexico/Colorado line to Wyoming in about 5 hours. It can drive can’t it. And I bet it has a nice big car!!