Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Obama's flight to Chicago: $236,000

|
|
 
  
President Barack Obama addresses health care reform during a town hall style meeting at Green Bay Southwest High School on June 11, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Obama will continue pushing his health care agenda next week when he meets with the American Medical Association's House of Delegates in Chicago. (UPI Photo/Brian Kersey) 
Published: June 15, 2009 at 8:15 AM

CHICAGO, June 15 (UPI) -- President Obama's flight aboard Air Force One to Chicago Monday to speak on healthcare reform costs $236,000, governments officials indicated.

U.S. Secret Service protection, motorcades and helicopter transports were extra for the estimated 2 1/2 hours Obama was expected to be in the Windy City, the Chicago Tribune reported.

A 2000 Government Accounting Office report showed Air Force One cost $54,100 to operate each flight hour, or roughly $67,000 in today's dollars, the Tribune reported, adding that a true cost is tough to estimate because of so many variable and costs that could either be included or excluded.

Security and communications requirements make the huge tab largely unavoidable, White House aides said. The government picks up the cost because he is always the commander in chief and might be pulled into a crisis. Some limited cost-sharing is done if the president travels to a political event, such as a fundraiser.

"The White House is committed to following all of the relevant rules and regulations regarding the reimbursement for travel expenses," spokesman Tommy Vietor told the Tribune.

The media pool traveling with Obama on Air Force One for government and political trips reimburses the government for the cost of seats.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Syrian protests continue
View Caption
fark
Despite having a court order against her, man interrupts domestic battery case against his girlfriend...
Empire State building IPO issued. Subby also has a bridge to sell you as well
Reverend Sun Myung Moon cedes mass wedding business to Morning Zoo dj's, let's see if anybody notices...
"No, your honor. It's just a social club. That hangs out in the woods. With high powered rifles....
New SI swimsuit cover girl is Republican congressman's niece
Can't sleep. Must eat Pope in woods. And wear his hat. Or something