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ThinkProgress » While Slashing Social Services, Gov. Kasich Flew More On State Plane In 3 Months Than Predecessor Did In 13
It took Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) less than three months to use state-owned private planes more than former Gov. Ted Strickland (D) used them in 13 months, according to a new report from the Dayton Daily News. Despite unveiling a budget full of painful cuts to vital programs, including education and health care, Kasich has cost taxpayers $31,400 for 20 total trips in his first 81 days in office. In contrast, Strickland spent $31,849 in his first 13 months in office. Ohioans are spending $387.65 a day to support Kasichs plane habit, compared to just $77.58 a day for Strickland.
But during his 2010 campaign against Strickland, Kasich, through spokesperson Rob Nichols, criticized the incumbents use of the plane and questioned whether funding the plane was justifiable at all:
But because [Strickland] likes hitting the snooze button, he makes a small army of people fire up his plane, get it ready and then fly it from one airport to another so he wont have to drive an extra 15 minutes to the airport. Putting aside the wasted money and extra wear and tear, could the guy do something more arrogant? Frankly, there needs to be a closer review of whether the planes cost can even still be justified at all.
But now Nichols has changed his tune, saying the plane is vital to keeping jobs in Ohio:
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It took Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) less than three months to use state-owned private planes more than former Gov. Ted Strickland (D) used them in 13 months, according to a new report from the Dayton Daily News. Despite unveiling a budget full of painful cuts to vital programs, including education and health care, Kasich has cost taxpayers $31,400 for 20 total trips in his first 81 days in office. In contrast, Strickland spent $31,849 in his first 13 months in office. Ohioans are spending $387.65 a day to support Kasichs plane habit, compared to just $77.58 a day for Strickland.
But during his 2010 campaign against Strickland, Kasich, through spokesperson Rob Nichols, criticized the incumbents use of the plane and questioned whether funding the plane was justifiable at all:
But because [Strickland] likes hitting the snooze button, he makes a small army of people fire up his plane, get it ready and then fly it from one airport to another so he wont have to drive an extra 15 minutes to the airport. Putting aside the wasted money and extra wear and tear, could the guy do something more arrogant? Frankly, there needs to be a closer review of whether the planes cost can even still be justified at all.
But now Nichols has changed his tune, saying the plane is vital to keeping jobs in Ohio:
<more>
