WASHINGTON — Republican John Boehner, expected to be the next speaker of the House, on Wednesday announced one way he intends to differentiate himself from current Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi: He said he will eschew military aircraft and instead fly commercial between his Ohio district and Washington — an attempt to help fulfill his party’s pledge to rein in government spending.
“Over the last 20 years, I have flown back and forth to my district on commercial aircraft. And I’m going to continue to do that,” Boehner said. Security concerns, heightened by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, often have been cited for Pelosi’s use of military aircraft because her position is second in line to the presidency.
Pelosi aides say that she has used a military aircraft less than her predecessor, Republican Speaker J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois. An aide said Pelosi often flies commercial, including travel for political activities such as campaign fundraising. In 2009, she used military aircraft for 38 flights to and from her San Francisco district. She used commercial airlines for 71 flights throughout the country, according to her office. Los Angeles Times
