The overhead associated with the U.S. Department of Defense first announced on the 5th, since taking office in July last year, Secretary of Defense, Panetta so far carpool military plane to and from Monterey, California home 27 times, for a total cost of $ 860,000, which he personally liable for about 1.7 million.
Out the name of “love home”
Panetta, now 73 years old, born in Monterrey, an Italian immigrant family in politics after he held a series of senior positions in Washington, but he has been living with his wife, a family farm in the vicinity of Monterrey, they have three sons and five grandchildren.
The name is well known in American politics, Panetta “love home”. As early as 1977 to 1993 as a Member, he is often back to Monterey with his family to spend the weekend.
The last three years in succession as the CIA and the Defense Minister, he made it clear that they will, as always, “Huijia look at the”.
Military spending can be reduced, to visit relatives fee diminished
Panetta’s visit relatives costs are soaring again, with the career bullish. Assumed the defense minister, in order to keep in touch with President Barack Obama and other senior officials, the Pentagon arranged for him to take a military plane equipped with advanced communications equipment to and from the east and west coasts. It is calculated that this plane hourly flight costs about $ 3200, Panetta every time a trip home at least a cost of $ 32,000.
Critics say the U.S. economy nowadays is still difficult climbing, the Pentagon is more belt-tightening, trying to cut nearly $ 1 trillion over the next 10 years, defense spending.The Panetta less than a year the huge overhead of more than 80 million U.S. dollars is particularly awkward, and “thrift” with the Obama administration effort to create the image runs counter to the. (Donglai)
The Defense Ministry said that security considerations
Home to visit relatives is equal to “recharge”
WASHINGTON For security and confidentiality considerations, the U.S. Secretary of Defense travel mainly by military aircraft, this approach first implemented in 2001 after President George W. Bush took office.
Related overhead in the 5th after the announcement, the White House and Pentagon opt for Panetta defended and claimed that this work requires. Defense Ministry spokesman George Little refers to Panetta value family life, and go home to visit relatives is the equivalent of his “charge”.
Tommy Weier Tuo, a spokesman for the White House National Security Committee, called Panetta work hard, whenever and wherever they are kept 24 hours on standby.
Defense Ministry spokesman George Little said: “Department of Defense over the next 10 years to be a week to clear cut funding of $ 1,000,000,000, equivalent to $ 140 million a day, no one Bipaneita Minister aware of the financial pressure. ”
Defense Department officials also explained that Panetta to take a military aircraft is not a personal wish, but for security reasons. He could not make a confidential military decisions on the staff mixed airliner. (Donglai)
Background links
More squandering of public funds than the ministers of the United States lawmakers.U.S. media have been disclosed, there are many U.S. congressmen assault to spend money before leaving. Reimbursement accounts varied, even including the value of expensive mobile phone sets.
U.S. lawmakers before the departure of love surprise money
Mr polls show has become the minds of Americans and ethical standards and integrity of the lowest population
WASHINGTON Coincidentally, on the 2nd of this month, the United States Federal Government General Services Administration Director Marsha Johnson submitted his resignation to the White House. Her to resign because of staff training activities, misuse of funds of more than $ 800,000 held in a luxury hotel.
The squandering of public funds ministers of more than U.S. lawmakers. 2010, “USA Today” newspaper have been disclosed, there are many U.S. congressmen before leaving hasty spending. Florida Democrat Robert Wexler has announced plans to leave the House of Representatives, but after that but spent $ 340,000 in employee bonuses, airline tickets and other political contributions.
“Today the U.S. newspaper reporter investigation has found that this phenomenon is very common in politics in the United States. Members still spend political contributions to a lot of people in the time of separation.
U.S. pollsters Gallup has done a poll, has become the moral standards and integrity of the lowest populations in the eyes of the public, Members. The evaluation of the voters on the House of Representatives even more than the car salesman.
In the U.S., the lobby is a major political landscape. Support the lobbying money: lecture, canvassing, banquets, advertising has to spend a lot of money is the main source of funds used by the lawmakers. The U.S. Senate and House will regularly publish the reimbursement records of the lawmakers. The Wall Street Journal has reviewed thousands of pages of the 2008 reimbursement records, lawmakers reimbursement projects are also included in the value of expensive mobile phone sets.