Tom Price’s Is Only Repaying A Tiny Fraction Of His Private Jet Spending
HHS Secretary will repay just 12 percent of the $400,000 he cost taxpayers with private jet travel.
The scandal surrounding Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price’s private jet use took another turn Thursday. Price publically apologized for his private jet travel, which cost taxpayers at least $400,000, and pledged to repay taxpayers for the cost of his flight.
But there is a massive catch in Price’s pledge.
Price is only planning to repay about 12 percent of the $400,000 he cost taxpayers.
A spokesperson for HHS said Price would repay just $51,887.31.
And that is the catch.
Price is only planning to repay the government for his seat on the private jets he took.
In his statement Thursday, Price said: “Today, I will write a personal check to the U.S. Treasury for the expenses of my travel on private charter planes. The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.”
So when Price says he will repay the costs associated with “my travel” and “my seat,” what he really means is that he wont be paying taxpayers anywhere close to what he cost them. Stuff like charges for fuel, taxes and additional fees don’t count. And presumably, the cost for other HHS staffers who flew with Price also won’t be paid back.
