So, Tom Price has just resigned -- does that mean we're still stuck with the bill???
1
Its time again for that other game called the DJT Termination Roulette. Its a component after all of that other game show called, the White House Apprentice. Let's see, now we have Mr. Price, who was never qualified to hold the position for which the Republican Senate & Congress confirmed him . Please keep in mind, that one must be basically unqualified in order to participate in these games. Mr. Price needs a private plane to conduct the business of which he has little or no understanding or care. REALLY!
Interestingly, Mr. Price isn't the only winner in this plane debacle. I believe Mr. Pruitt, Mnuchin, and a few others are also on that boat that ought to be described as the USS Titanic. The question is always, when will this boat sink itself?
Let's not overlook, DJT whose Secret Service contingent have gone with unpaid overtime, whilst protecting DJT on his golf holidays, etc. Let's look at DJT's children, grandchildren & their Secret Service protection. Really? The Secret Service ought only be obligated to protect those who actually live in the White House or Mr. Pence.
Reality check time - the U.S. is not a junior high school play yard, replete with bullies who steal ones' lunch money, however DJT has turned America into his school yard. Next guy off the ship, Price!
1
1:39 PST, 9/29/17: Price resigns.
What will Mnuchin, Pruitt, and Sessions do when their travel is explored and reported?
3
The President does not tell the truth, he picks fights with the whole world, literally. His Secretaries spend money outlandishly. No one cares about the average person, everyone is out for themselves. Where's Putin in all this?
2
Trump hired a bunch of Rich Guys for all his top positions and -- surprise -- they're acting like rich guys on the taxpayers' dollars.
Just like their boss, who -- with his family -- jets off for costly weekends to his personal residences to play golf. With this Administration, the corruption starts at the Top(!!)
5
Mr. Price saw fit only to pay 10% of the cost of the transportation he used. The hubris is enormous. No other person on those flights would have been there if he had not chartered the planes. He should pay the entire amount. Period. Then he should apologize to the American people and resign. Not necessarily in that order.
5
It's laughable that "administration officials" had "questions about whether it was legal" for Tom Price to "reimburse" the federal government for the cost of travel he shouldn't have tried to take at government expense. This speaks to the cluelessness (feigned?) of those officials.
Government regulations evolve over time, so they end up covering virtually all possibilities. If this particular possibility somehow isn't covered, Secretary Price could simply write a check to the United States Treasury (but shouldn't take an income tax deduction for a charitable gift)! It's legal!
More broadly, people should ask how Mr. Price's travel plans got authorized in the first place. Who were the authorizing officials (probably grunt-level workers)? Were they pressured to "relax" travel regulations for the boss (Mr. Price)? Were high-level officials besides Price involved? Who were they, and why did they go along?Travel authorizations could have been withheld, after all.
3
I would prefer that Price keeps his job. For me, he showcases the ugly innards of a fiscally phony Republican Party and the thieving, greasy fingers of the Trump Administration. The only thing missing in this equation is a strong thundering voice on the Democratic side that can effectively show the country the true face of this thieving group - Trump (Ali) Baba and his thieves.
3
President Trump ran on the notion of "draining the swamp". Price and others who have been found to be using their position to enrich themselves show be fired!
1
All these Masters of the Universe don't believe that ANY rules, laws, apply to them. Mr. Price uses every perk he can find while continuing to advocate for all things that benefit his portfolio. These officials along with Dear Leader are in it for themselves.
3
The guy is a really shady character, it becomes more and more clear.
2
He "regrets" this greed becoming public. He never used the word "sorry". He has cost the government over $400K and intends to pay for only one seat (out of 30) for a few of the early flights only. Hi reimbursement amounts to only 10% of the costs. He should be dismissed but I'm sure that Trump admires his caginess. Trump spends millions of taxpayer dollars just to play golf.
4
Poor Dr Price. This makes two retired physicians in The Donald's cabinet who should have stayed home and wrote (more, mediocre) books.
As a mid-level medical provider, I simply cannot see the need to stop treating all of the needy (pediatric) patients that need us, but I guess this sort of thing doesn't bore me like these fellas who gave up (I hope) their medical licenses.
And now Ole Jimmy Price will have dig into his retirement savings and pay back the American taxpayers who flew him around like he was an actual, caring civil servant. Like his boss is fond of saying - sad.
4
Price and all other officials who have milked the taxpayers should be fired and Trump should be impeached if he doesn't fire them.
4
And what about the tax that the government doesn't pay, but everybody else pays when we fly? Price needs to ante up. Repay the flight and all associated costs that he tried to rob from the American people. The nerve of this guy. A private jet to take him from Washington to Philly. It's faster to drive....even with a private jet.
3
When it comes to budgetary issues and fiscal conservatism Tom Price no longer has any credibility (if indeed he had any previously). Price knowingly sought the the frequent use of a private chartered aircraft when other forms of transportation through common carriers were available, at substantially less expense to taxpayers. Putting aside for the moment whether this travel was necessary or justifiable. Price wanted what he perceived to be a perk of power. Now after costing taxpayers in excess of $400,000 for these flights, Price states that he will reimburse the government for his "seat," but taxpayers incurred the cost of a flight, not merely the cost of his transportation in isolation. More than forty years ago, Ronald Reagan criticized food assistance to the poor because of "strapping young bucks" were using taxpayer money to eat "t-bone steaks." That was nonsense, but starting the anti-government spending movement. The real crime is with wealthy people so nakedly using government resources for the enhancement of their lifestyle.
6
Dr. Price. Please resign. You have disgraced the office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Your flagrant abuse of taxpayer funds for chartered flights is just your most recent example of self-dealing. As a public health professional, I am embarrassed to talk about your actions to graduate students who are scanning the horizon for role models to emulate. First, what they observe is a Secretary who has iteratively championed healthcare reform proposals that will deprive tens of millions of Americans of health insurance, jeopardize coverage for essential services, and jettison persons with pre-existing conditions from the ranks of the insured. Second, what they observe is a Secretary who is presiding over an HHS budget that proposes unprecedented and crippling cuts to public health research at NIH and shrinks vital programs at CDC. Third, what they observe is a Secretary who is proposing to gut global public health funding even while flying internationally at taxpayer expense. Fourth, what they observe is a Secretary who is fundamentally unworthy to lead the talented personnel at HHS who have dedicated lifelong service at modest salary to “serve the public’s health.”
6
Of course, we "won't pay a dime," we'll be paying $350,000 (and that doesn't get into the $500,000 for flying military aircraft with your wife on trips abroad)!! And to think, they all chanted "Crooked Hillary!"
12
This administration is so brazen in its selfish greed, all while working tirelessly to rip health insurance from millions of vulnerable Americans and push a trillion-dollar tax giveaway to themselves. This is just beyond everything.
10
1/8th? He's going to reimburse 1/8th? How about going to jail for misuse of public funds? How about getting removed from office because he's clearly not too bright as evidenced from his comment that Trump is a "remarkable leader." Who needs people like this? Talk about a swamp. Nothing left but the alligators.
11
When Trump declared "drain the swamp", his cabinet heard "rain on the swamp" and declared a toast to drinking it up.
2
Trump's hypocrisy is astounding. Each time he spends a weekend golfing at one of his very own golf resorts, the taxpayer is out of about $3 million. And he thinks he has every right to do this. His sons go on hunting trips and we have to pay for body guards, cost to the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars. For months we had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars each week for Melania's security contingent as she refused to move into the White House.
What message does he think he sends to the corporate cronies he hired to help the US drown in his swamp? Why wouldn't they believe that flying on private jets on private business on the taxpayers dime is okay? Trump does it all the time.
9
'Asked if Mr. Price’s job was in jeopardy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, declined to comment, except to say, “We’ll see what happens.” '
Gee, I wish I could get a high paying job involving national visibility where no more was expected of me than my ability to say, "We'll see what happens."
8
He owes the American people every red cent of every flight he took, all thirty seats on his little private jet.
LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!
8
Price's airplane problem is just one example of out-of-control spending by this administration: private airline charters by others (Pruitt, Zenke, Mnuchin), the secret phone booth in Pruitt's office, charges for govt employees staying at Mar A Lago, Pruitt's additional security detail (no cost given for that one), and Secret Service protection of Trump family and Trump tower. Are there others that I haven't heard of?
7
Paying a 10th of what is actually owed shows he still doesn't have a clue! It's not that doesn't have the money either...
8
With the cost of Trump's multiple jaunts to his various resorts and golf courses for "working" holidays approaching 25 million dollars (the cost of Obama's travel in eight years of office) I am amazed at Trump's outrage and the public response to a mere 400k outlay by a cabinet minister. While Price's misuse of public funds is certainly noteworthy, it pales in comparison to Trump's massive waste. Where is the outrage for Trump? It is truly sad to see the apparent normalization of the acts of one of the truly ugliest Americans in my memory.
9
I have a hunch that Trump allowed him to use the planes. But after Price got caught Trump had to make Price the fall guy... Why would I be suspicious about the behavior of this administration? You tell me!
5
In other words, Tom Price (who was curiously absent during this summer and fall's Congressional flailing about) has now got off the dime to handle what matters: keeping his job, avoiding prosecution, and getting a discount on the fines.
4
He's not paying the costs, he is only paying for his seats. He needs to pay the whole costs of these flights.
I suspect Mnuchin did the same thing when he claimed he paid for his wife's costs when they jetted off on a private plane, paid for by you and me, to see the eclipse. I suspect he paid her commercial costs and not the actual costs but I'm waiting for the report.
5
No, the taxpayers won't pay a dime -- the taxpayers will pay thousands of dollars for the planes that contained Price's pricey seats.
If Price only wants to pay for HIS seat, maybe he should be mounted on a catapult and launched to his next event. Besides, what changed since 2009 when he himself was railing against government figures taking private charters and military planes?
6
Now it should be evident to everyone that Trump and Co. have come to DC not to "drain the swamp" but to exploit it. When will his base wake up? Maybe with the GOP tax proposals that will save the ultra rich billions? Sadly perhaps not even then.
3
You mean the Welfare for the Wealthy Plan? If we all call it what it is, it may shame some congresspeople to vote against it based on optics.
3
This is exactly why people like Tom Price need huge tax breaks right away — they have to pay powerful PR firms to persuade the actual taxpayers, the middle class, that their taxpayer-financed platinum underwear is a national priority.
5
I would consider a second mortgage if I could get 400k+ in private jet flights for 50,000. Of course Price does not need a second mortgage - he can use the nice bundle of cash gained from his questionable stock investments while a member of Congress.
6
Price is an elitist to be sure. I imagine his biggest single motivation for the private flights, though, is to avoid having to actually be amongst the millions whose lives he has worked so hard to make worse. Could lead to some nasty confrontations, which Tom Price absolutely deserves.
21
“I look forward to gaining, regaining the trust that the American people, some of the American people, may have lost in the activities that I took,” says Tom Price. Mr. Price, you never had our trust in the first place, and neither do the rest of Trump's cronies.
17
Assuming for the present that Dr. Price will be fired, I'm wondering whom the president is likely to name as his replacement, and what that might mean for the HHS programs Price has been pushing.
3
What does this guy Price actually do? He's the secretary for health. Isn't he supposed to be sitting in his office in Washington, working on proposals for keeping the costs of healthcare in check and figuring out how to get better healthcare to more Americans?
Instead, he's flying around the country with an entourage of seven, doing photo ops as if he were some kind of insecure movie star.
18
As long as we ax "meals on wheels" we should be able to cover the $348,000.00 balance not paid by Price. That's right folks the present government has allready figured out where to find the funds to cover the cost of doing its business. Not go and enjoy your weekend everything under control.
12
If he chartered the whole jet, he needs to pay for all seats, not just the one he rested is behind in.
14
I think it's time President Trump who campaigned on draining the swamp, better come clean about all the waste, fraud and abuse going on in this administration before they start lining their pockets with another tax cut that will benefit them.
I think the American people have a right to know just how much money from the tax payer's pockets and treasury are being spent on these Cabinet members and Trump family members on private travel and where they are going.
I worked in the DOD for 32 years and couldn't accept anything from a private contractor for fear of conflict of interest, not even a donut and coffee.
This administration in turning into a regular sleazy group of grifters that are acting like they are a bunch of entitled CEO's rather than some working in public service.
19
Price is only doing what his boss, and all of his cabinet member colleagues do: lavishly spend taxpayer money on themselves. Those Mar-a-Lago golfing trips aren't cheap, either.
15
Price is so obviously self-serving and corrupt, that it's astounding to think he could ever be nominated for a cabinet position, much less confirmed. He should be in jail for insider trading at the least, possibly even bribery, for what he did while in Congress. That's clearly a reason that Trump fired Preet Bharara, who was investigating Price.
12
He should be made to pay it ALL back.
He should be fired.
As an aside I'd like to know at what depth 45 will stop deepening the swamp. Just curious.
8
Why is he traveling at all? Is there some benefit that he provides?
8
Why is the public paying for Trumps flights to his "rallies".
They are not official business. They are events to massage his ego.
12
Here is the e-mail I just sent to Dr. Price. I suggest that you all do the same:
"Dear Dr. Price,
You demonstrated as a corrupt congressperson that you had no morals, making money off of companies you were regulating, and now you have proven it once again. Flying al over the world on the taxpayers’ dollar - even as you are aggressively moving to take affordable, accessible health care away from millions of people, is egregious.
You should resign immediately, and take that corrupt president who appointed you with you."
12
How is this guy not in jail already for insider trading? Man, I just really don't get this.. He's doing everything he can do to destabilize healhcare in this country and now he's wasting all of this taxpayer money while simultaneously pushing cuts to important research and NIH and elsewhere.
He should be gone already. Full stop. I'll take my chances on whoever proceeds him (hopefully they will be mildly less trashy---though I'm not going to hold my breath).
8
Only paying because he got caught.
The new swamp; same as the old swamp!
How pathetic this all is.
10
This man is the prototypical arrogant hypocrite, wailing about waste in government until he has the chance to soak the government but good with his private flights - including one from D.C. to Philadelphia, which he could have made on Amtrak for about $100. And let's not forget his stock dealing when he was in a position to shape legislation affecting the companies that would be regulated. He has the morals and the ethical compass of a vulture. He's got to go, along with his other Swamp Creatures like Pruitt. At least Betsy DeVos has the grace to dip into her billions and pay for her own private planes.
12
Trump and his adminstration are the most corrupt in US history. These guys should go to prison for massive and criminal misuse and abuse of power and tax payer money. They have created a swamp that did not exist till now. The money could have been spent on helping puerto rico victims who have no food and electricity.
12
"The president’s anger has escalated over the past 24 hours, and has told at least one person close to him that he reserves the right to fire Mr. Price if new revelations come to light that reflect badly on Mr. Trump."
In other words....
Trump doesn't care if it was unethical.
Trump doesn't care if it was illegal.
Trump doesn't care if it was a misuse of taxpayers' dollars.
All Trump cares about is how it might make him look.
His narcissism is disgusting!
17
If I were Price, I would be hopping mad. After all, Trump mooches more off the taxypayers than anybody else. Given Trump has refused to divest himself of his business interests, taxpayers pay Trump for Trump to go to a golfing resort that he owns. Talk about fleecing the same sheep twice. Guys like Price and Mnuchin are just trying to do as the boss does.
But on the other hand, they signed up to be the Trump administration. They should know hypocrisy is standard operating procedure.
13
This is a symptom of fascism, pure and simple. How we feel about it is irrelevant. Whatever is ethical or legal no longer applies. Get used to it.
11
"Oh...so my actual title is head of 'Health and Human Services?' Was certain you said 'Wealth and Charter Services.' My bad!"
23
Ah ha ha ha! That was good!
4
If price is just paying for his one seat on a 31 seat jet does he also intend to deduct from what he pays for the time when he's not sitting in the seat but in the bathroom? He seems like a man that likes to see himself in the mirror a lot so the "out of the actual seat" deduction could be a very large percentage of the money he says he will pay back. He also needs to resign immediately.
14
The real obscenity is the massive cost of Trump's frequent weekend "mini vacations" at his golf clubs or resorts. Not just Air Force One but a backup, numerous support air craft, the cost to bring senior staff along, and security for all. No other President has come even remotely close to this abuse of the privilege, all on our dime. Disgusting.
19
Where's the Trump supporters on this? We're not hearing much about "Drain the swamp" are we?
12
Even in a weak attempt at repaying his absurd extravagance, at the taxpayers' expense, Price reveals himself to be a penny-pinching chiseler.
Only paying 1/8 the cost of those flights?
What pretzel logic. None of those flights would have been chartered if not for his "schedule". HE was personally responsible for all of them.
He should be repaying the full $400,000, not one penny less. Unbelievable!
Oh, wait.....
18
Trump and Company not setting much of an example... And the Republicans had the gall to give Obama a hard time when he vacationed on Martha's Vineyard!
13
Well Mr Price is going to pay back $52,000.00 cost for "his seat" on the charter flights. How about several questions:
* Was he the only one on the charter as a passenger? Should he pay the total amount of the flights?
* Were any other HHS staff on the plane with his? Shouldn't he or they pay for those?
* How about those over seas flights on our Military Planes? Is he or they going to pay for them?
Price claims all of his charters were approved by HHS in advance. But, he is the Secretary of HHS. Are we supposed to believe his Travel Branch in HHS is going to not allow the Secretary what he orders up for a flight?
Oh, and now Price is saying there will be no more charters for HHS. Does that mean he fly's Coach, or is he going to have all "Business Class" seats so he doesn't have to sit with the unscrubbed masses?
11
The total bill for Price's malfeasance, including military flights, is over $1M. Price's lame apology and offer to pay back $52,000 is insulting to my taxpaying intelligence. Trump should fire Price immediately!
13
Such hypocrisy from Price and Donald! They are taking us, Taxpayers, for granted! We should ALL protest and NOT pay our taxes!!!
6
Another example of arrogance and smugness from those in this administration. YES, pay all of it back out of your pocket -- not just your seat -- your took the whole plane. Isn't this theft of US tax dollars?? This would be a felony if he were not in this administration. Lock him up, too.
13
This man stole 400,000 dollars from us. Its not enough for him to apologize, or to pay it back. He belongs in prison.
11
Here's hoping Trump hits the eject button for Price. He can take with him his sordid, self-serving principles, egregious self-dealing, and complete abandonment of the Hippocratic Oath. This guys is one of the worst of the bunch. Be gone.
6
What kind of howling and shrieking would we be hearing if this was Obama's or Hillary's cabinet???
I heard Obama on a news story about the storm in Puerto Rico. Americans miss him.
The film-flam man temporarily occupying our highest office is a disgrace to our country.
8
Rebuked....ah wouldn't it have been nice if obama used that action once during his 8 yrs? Let's see: Hillary on Benghazi, Holder on Fast and Furious, looking in a mirror on himself of VA...the list goes on and on.
Thank you Mr Trump for publicly scolding a team member of yours who was out of line.
The arrogance to Tom Price is almost as great as that of #45 himself. Fire BOTH of them.
8
Tom Price should be fired or resign from public office. He is a distraction to the Trump administration and an embarrassment. Don't you find his judgment and ethics lacking?
2
One wonders if Homer Price M.D. would have taken steps to pay back money he stole from American taxpayers if he hadn’t been caught. Unfortunately, this level of arrogance is typical of most corporate executives and those in privileged jobs such as medicine and the law. Many of them won’t go into public service because it doesn’t pay enough and those who do are only doing so because they have been assured that they can turn a trick after leaving office.
Perhaps the only way to underscore the seriousness of his campaign pledge to drain the swamp of corruption is for the President to fire this guy. At best, it will give others in government pause before they think to take advantage of the American taxpayer and will demonstrate a sense of accountability that has long been missing in Washington, D.C., and which the President has promised to restore.
30
"At best, it will give others in government pause before they think to take advantage of the American taxpayer and will demonstrate a sense of accountability that has long been missing in Washington, D.C., and which the President has promised to restore."
You're expecting a moral act from an immoral source. As long as he is one of the "gators", don't expect him to drain the swamp.....
1
Is anyone really surprised? During Price's conformation hearings, there was real concern about shady business dealings in which he just happened to invest in pharmaceutical companies just as the House Committee Price was leading at the time changed regulations to benefit those same companies. But his Republican friends in the Senate claimed that Price was "one of the most ethical people they knew".
In light of this recent developments one can not question Price's judgement and priorities but also of the greater Republican Party. It will be interesting to see where this goes especially in light of the news of other cabinet members using private flights at taxpayers' expense.
14
Anyone who's worked at a corporation knows the tone is set by the CEO. No different in this administration. The tone of the White House is set at the very top by Mr. Trump. Obviously Mr. Price felt it was o.k. to do what he did. And he only pays when he is caught and even Mr. Trump (who spends taxpayers money like it grows on trees) sees that the "optics" on this were bad.
8
These guys are always so contrite once they get caught. Looks to me the swamp is rising.
6
Reimbursing for "his seat" on the planes...do we know that these charters were some sort of shared flights...thought he or his agency arranged them for HIM? Paying back roughly an eighth of the total cost ($400K) doesn't seem kosher.
2
It was obvious he had no ethics last Ng before this.
The Republicans voted to put him in the Cabinet in spite of flagrant insider trading -- even worse than typical insider trading as he was voting for legislation that affected the stocks he traded.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/hhs-pick-tom-price-made-brazen-stock...
7
This is stupid.
Politicians and former politicians are getting paid off by special and foreign interests. Then they are repaying these people by selling Americans out.
Take for example, not enforcing immigration laws. A few wealthy people and foreign governments benefit. The American citizen suffers through crime, government services supplied to them and most importantly, wage suppression.
We also have the horrible use of tech visas to destroy America's security, prosperity and competitiveness.
Then there are the inappropriate sale of American assets such as utilities and energy resources to foreign companies
Special deals for corporate donors etc.
The issue is not jet trips which cost the American taxpayer millions. It is foreign and special interests which cost the American taxpayer trillions and are actually putting American lives and freedom and risk.
I would not begrudge Mr. Price a few airplane trips. We are being foolish
1
The arrogance and stupidity of Trump and his administration on full display this week:
Price
I've got 50 votes for repeal of Obama Care
Puerto Rico
Tax Reform
DeVos
Pruit
Trump has done our Nation a great service proving to us that the GOP is worthless and corrupt.
13
And you needed further proof about the GOP?
4
Following Mr. Price's example, I hereby promise to pay 1/7 of my total tax bill for 2017. I trust that will be fine with the IRS.
25
It’s rich: the man occupying the office of president and whose own flying habits abuse office position is publicly shaming one of his officials.
Tone deaf is the phrase of the day.
21
He's not the only one of the cabinet members who are up to this kind of thing, and let's not forget the endless trips to Mar-a-lago and others of the President's resorts that have cost us all millions, so Mr. T saying, “I’m going to look at it. I am not happy about it. . .” is more than a little hypocritical. Motes and beams, or just a little deflection?
14
New heights of arrogance, and entitlement. This is how tax dollars of the less fortunate are spent by those in the current administration who can actually afford the price of a ticket and not think twice about it. Shame on them.
12
Mr. Price's offer to refund only a fraction of his spending is appropriate and knee-jerk Trump bashers should stop attacking it. Although Mr. Price may have chartered those planes, and the flights would not have taken place without him, the space his seat took up was only a fraction of the plane's total square footage.
2
The unnecessary cost of $1M to the taxpayers would not have happened without Price's arrogant malfeasance. It's laughable to say that its 'appropriate' to pay only a tiny fraction back. Trump supporters should realize that Price will be a drag on Trump's agenda.
4
So you're okay with him using hard-earned tax money for his comfort?!
1
Perhaps Price could have attached a parachute to the bottom of the plane instead of taking a seat. Even less percentage to pay back then. Zero? Your NY comment in the NYTimes made my laugh of the day.
1
He's paying an eighth of his bill? I'll have to remember that next time I book a flight, dine out, or contribute to a political campaign.
12
Or file your taxes....i didnt know we had a choice! Now i do. Except id get my wages garnished. But not those swampdwellers..
2
This reporting is too generous to Price. Or, maybe just too insiderish to recognize how those of us outside feel. This cheapskate is so arrogant that he appears upset only that he was caught. And then, wants to reimburse only a portion! Price is not a 25 year old new to money and power. He knew that he was using taxpayer money and felt entitled to do so. Maybe he has other qualities that particularly qualify him for his job, but if Trump does not replace him, it will be Trump who pays.
14
You charter the plane, you pay for the entire plane!
Not just your seat.
You pay for the pilots, the wings, the avionics, the tail, all of the seats (used by you or not).
20
His response is completely unsatisfactory! He ordered up the private jets to fly on his itinerary and his alone. With his hand caught in the cookie jar, he's now willing to re-pay--but just for his seat alone. Who is expected to pay the $500,000+ difference? Yes and I. According to regulations, he owes the American people the entire cost of the flights. Even Cabinet members must follow the JTR. And, like a career civil servant, he is subject to salary garnishment for the entire cost to the Federal Treasury.
22
Fine. It's already a given that this administration holds itself above the law -- Steve Mnuchin's recent flying escapade taught us that; so how can it be a surprise that Tom Price only wants to get in on the action?
Nevertheless, the question remains; how is only offering to pay back 1/8 of the bill sparing U.S. taxpayers anything?
Price didn't offer to do this because "he thought this was the right thing to do."
He did this because he got caught.
21
US citizens must demand Price be removed from his appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
4
Yeah- the right thing to do would have been taking a commercial flight or a train or even a car.
2
The taxpayer won't pay a dime. That's true. The taxpayer will pay about eighty or ninety cents on the dollar.
16
Pay, ha! He is not paying for the cost of his unnecessary use of chartered airplanes. I wish I could pay for the use of a private plane by just paying the cost of his seat. The entire plane was chartered for his personal use, he owes the government for the entire cost, not the cost of one seat. Furthermore, he isn't the only trumpian cabinet official abusing his office by arranging chartered air flights. Some "populist" administration.
13
The fact that President Trump has spent a ton of taxpayer money to spend weekends at his own homes and retreats sends a message that one can take advantage of the treasury and get away with it.
21
First, Price does not want to travel alongside the ordinary riffraff. But has no problem using their taxes for a luxury flight. He says he will pay for his own seat now and not for the entourage he took along. Give me a break! Yes, if he had indeed used a Jetpack - you know the gas turbine backpack that we see used during the Olympic opening ceremonies, that would entitle him to limit himself to a single seat payment. Since he didn't do that, he had better cough up and payback the full amount he spent.
And further, the Administration is planning to raise taxes for the same riffraff group from 10 to 12 %, while lowering their own. Trump alone will save over $30 million dollars from the proposed tax plan. It's a tax cut for the very rich while they sock it to the rest of us.
20
It's only OK with Trump if his own family is bilking the taxpayers. They don't want any competition.
15
Another example of conservatives becoming liberals when it comes to their needs.
7
Beyond the obvious insult to American tax payers that is abusing these private planes, the offer to simply pay it back, even if only for his seat, compounds it. Must be nice to have a cool ~$51,000 to burn when you're caught and need to try and save face. Makes you wonder what and who else he's exploited for his benefit.
8
I'll be surprised if he actually pays back the fraction he's offered to pay. I assume he's bluffing and will later claim that there was no available channel to repay the money, as hinted at in this article. But by the time that news comes out this will have blown over, we'll be focused on a different scandal, and Trump supporters will be firmly convinced that Price paid back the full million and then some.
1
Birds of a feather have flocked to the Trump administration.
15
Hey Tom "Swampy" Price, $400,000 would certainly help with clean-up in Puerto Rico right about now.
16
Swamp seems to be deeper than ever.
12
Mr. Price seems to believe that he was made a prince and can use the taxpayers money so he doesn’t have to sit with the American rabble, as do Mr. Mnuchin and Pruitt. If this is how they treat our tax money where does it end. These guys are paying to go see their families, go on honeymoons and visit the companies that got them their jobs, while destroying the agencies they run. The President should be angry, but what did he expect these guys don’t know what service to the American people is, they are in it for themselves and for there backers. Big oil owns Pruitt, the pharmaceutical companies own Price and big banks own Mnuchin. They are the swamp and the sooner the president gets rid of them the sooner the American taxpayers can see the swamp getting drained.
24
How to be a billionaire 101:
"Mr. Baier (fox so-called news) pressed him (Price) on the cost of that travel — which Politico estimated at over $400,000, a number that has not been disputed — and asked why Mr. Price had only offered to pay back only $51,887. Mr. Price said that amount covers the cost of his seat on the trips, and the total bill remains under review."
What about "Mr. Price’s flying on United States military aircraft to travel to Europe, Asia and Africa for official events, at a cost of more than $500,000."? Supposedly it was "approved" by the White House.
Aren't the Robber Baron boys and girls having fun stealing OUR hard-earned money? Remember how they pretended to be incensed at the $25,000
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton got for speeches to their firm, Goldman Sachs?
Rachel Maddow (MSNBC 9 pm ET weeknights) reported on this last night. Seems to make great news fodder. WE THE PEOPLE must put an end to it all and throw the crooks out. NOW.
26
Price is the guy who says he only had one when the bar tab comes, and leaves a five. Mr. Insider Trading never should have made it through Senate confirmation in the first place. We knew this leopard had spots all along, and so did the man who put him there.
26
Let's clarify the reporting - he offered to pay for his own seat after being caught. He owes the taxpayer the entire cost of the charters. That cost could fund essential public health programs for the most vulnerable Americans - a school clinic, a county vaccination program, an opioids harm reduction outreach, an HIV prevention program. I worked for an HHS-funded clinical program, have an MPH, and was involved in grant writing and budgeting. Real public health and medical professionals use funding ethically and to the benefit of the communities we've pledged to serve. Price represents the dark side of American health care - profiteers who inflate their own importance, distort science, perpetuate extreme market failures, and direct resources to "administrative" functions and investors. The individuals appointed to HHS positions by this administration are quite literally a danger to our health.
33
Thank you for speaking up. Not only does he need to pay back all the money he misused, he should be fired and put in jail!
12
No prior president has wasted a tenth as much of the taxpayers money, with kusury travel for his large family of shoy egoists who pprovide zero expertise on anything. The Secret Service is stretched beyond endurance. Trump not the one to criticise anyone for taking money from taxpayers-- while paying no tax himself. Who are th brainless who vote for such a man?
19
What I find incredible is just how CHEAP these millionaires are. When it is the taxpayers' dime, no expense is too great. But when caught, he will reluctantly pay for HIS SEAT. What about the other 29 seats on the jet he chartered for his own use? It is obvious that the wording on his "apology" was intended to deceive us. It failed.
32
Well, I guess I can still be shocked by hubris.
10
Price should have to reimburse us the full amount (<$1M) and should be fired for bad judgement. Period. In addition, the standard should be carried out to the rest of the politicians who abuse taxpayer dollars. This is crazy.
14
The American people have to understand: Russia had serfs.....and czars. We are going backwards toward that era in that country.
1
He could easily reimburse the taxpayers the full cost of his unethical behavior with the money he got from his insider trading deals while in congress.
15
The President is cleaning up from his term in office--charging the government for astonishing quantities of hotel space--and he's got the country paying attention to the ethics of a cabinet secretary's flights. Pure magic.
15
So he'll pay for his seat, 25% of the total cost of his theft, and in his mind this makes the American taxpayer whole.
I guess it makes perfect logical sense from a person who has no problem destroying health care for tens of millions of people.
16
'Under Review' means he'll never pay the rest and it will be forgotten.
I think maybe I'll pay just 1/8 of my taxes this year. And the rest can be under review.
11
Price charters a 10 passenger plane, then he gets caught, then he fake-apologizes and says he'll pay for ONE, JUST ONE seat to make up for it all? What am I missing? He either pays for the entire plane or charges should be brought.
11
I’m almost as concerned about how the media is covering this as the corruption itself - at least the headlines. Mr Price did NOT apologize - he said that he was sorry that people were concerned. He is NOT reimbursing for the flight - just his seat! Please be careful how you cover this.
Thank you
19
Price should have to fly in the middle seat in coach on an overnight flight to Australia for a week rather than repay a few bucks.
8
No. I want him sharp, rested, focused and yes happy, so that he can represent America's interests. The issue is not the small perks that come with these offices, the issue is selling Americans out. If we don't grease their palms someone else will.
Mr. Price has a tough and important job. I want him well supported and appreciated.
Make him pay back the entire amount with interest. Why should tax payers pay for his lavish lifestyle choices?
18
Price is toast
He has no constituency
He simply reminds us of the rising waters
I can 't see how even Trump supporters would back him up
5
Price hasn't the character to resign. It takes a real person to take responsibility for his/her actions and Price is only one of almost all Trump appointees to have demonstrated their inability to work on behalf of the American people. It's time to remove this tumor from this cancerous administration.
10
You need to do the arithmetic, because his brazen stunt is based on the total number of seats in the private plane(s), undoubtedly including empty ones. And how does he get away with claiming he only owes for HIS seat(s). He ordered the planes and the others on the flights were his aides and his spouse (and whoever else we don't really know about )
79
I infer there were 7 aboard the plane, and "Posh Spice" Price believes the pilot and other flight staff are culpable for their own 1/7 share of costs.
6
Gee, if Tom, Scott and Ryan really don't like flying with the rest of us unwashed Americans, why don't they just borrow Betsy's jet?
17
So does that mean each of his staffers will also submit a check for their seat? What a phenomenal hypocrite. The new swamp is Trump hypocrisy. Individual acts (Mnuchin, Zinke, etc) are lost in the bog.
12
Why should any GOP voter be surprised? When you subscribe to the notion of superior ubermensch who should rule by right and might ("rich businessmen, ooh!"), you get the white nationalist Republican Party of today. Constitutional originalists? Hah! Today's GOP has more in common with the Redcoats, all claiming that the highest duty is to fall at the King's feet.
Horrible, just horrible; Uncle Sam's boys started dropping trouser on all principle decades ago, and now, here we are, broke, in the midst of global chaos, and on the brink of war, possibly nuclear. Meanwhile, the conversation back in the homeland is all about proper flag-waving and "greatness." Splendid.
8
Show us how tough you are, Mr. Trump.
O Captain! My Captain! Drain the swamp ...
Starts with the captain of the ship.
7
This was predictable. It's also predictable nada will happen from this crooked regime. When you have loyalists lining their pockets, they will do what the leader does because he gets away with it and has for decades. Moves to our wh and increases the hedonism exponentially and it shows. That's the way to set up a cabinet of oligarchs-in-training. That's how you do it - steal money from taxpayers.
6
what kind of nonsense are these people up to??? i mean price, pruitt and mnuchin. price only paying $52,000 vis a vis the cost as quoted. that in itself is cheapo!!!! he should pay gross cost of flights, netting out cost of first class tickets (even though he is far from first class himself). he should then be fired!!! pruitt as well, at the end of the day, his cost to the world will be many lives and trillions of dollars. mnuchin is a disappointment since his father is a prince of a man:
4
Never like this guy even when he was my representative. He's arrogant and he doesn't listen to anyone but his keepers, certainly not to the voters. FIRE him.
6
We will all be paying, and paying, and paying for years to make up for the corruption that this administration is foisting on us. As will our children and grandchildren. The scope of corruption, entitlement, greed, and elitism shown by these thieving GOP marauders is beyond breath-taking. Where does it stop? When does it stop? WHO IS GOING TO STOP IT? You know that Price and the rest of the parasites who suck money out of the poor and the middle class taxpayers are going to get away with EVERY CORRUPT THING THAT THEY DO. Our elected officials do not help us; they all stand by and watch as trump and the GOP rulers rape the country in any and every possible way they can. They will take away our health care; they will tax us to death, and they will steal as much as they can from the Treasury for themselves, and for the 1%. This is no longer The United States of America. NOT. They will do to us what Putin does to his people.
5
Considering the cost of trump's visits to Mar a Lago and all his other play time trips this is rich - so to speak. What a hypocrite!
6
Only 1/8th?? Give me a break. Talk about the swamp
4
The man is a scoundrel and a thief of public moneys.
He should pay back the costs of those luxury travels -- ALL of them, not just the tiny fraction he's offering in a devious ducking of responsibility. Whatever those private charters and military flights cost beyond an ordinary, commercial flight seat -- ALL of it. Where he wasted 35K on a charter when he could have bought a $500 commercial flight ticket, he owes us that full 35K minus $500.
And then, he should be FIRED. For being a self-seeking, arrogant, insultingly wasteful and excuse-making man who does not belong anywhere near public office.
Every Republican Senator who voted for him, after his record already showed what a crooked, lying, deal-seeking sleazeball he is, should be ashamed of their support for this kind of self-dealing. Voters will remember it, and well they should. This is the most deceitful, thieving administration ever.
6
The rump has made America great - the greatest sorriest laughing stock of the world! Apparently there's nothing this bunch of crooks can do that will awaken they're blind followers. Perhaps a mushroom cloud in this country?
4
What a great idea to charter a flight, and then insisting on paying not for the full cost of the charter, but just the cost of a single seat. Fly on a private plane for the cost of a commercial flight ticket. Sounds a like a great deal for the traveller, although not so much for the idiots paying for the rest of the tab. Unfortunately, in this case, those idiots are all of us.
11
And former VP Biden took a train to and from the Oval Office each day.
Doesn't the corruption, filth and hypocrisy of these Trump people make you want to weep?
14
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
11
If he was the one that arranged the plane, he should pay for every seat on it. I doubt anyone else would have gone if he hadn't set it up.
And why does Health and Human Services need to travel to "Europe, Asia, and Africa"? He should be spending his time taking care of the people in this country - you know, the ones they're trying to take healthcare away from?
19
Rich that Trump chastises Price for wasting a mere $1M on air travel - how much are we asked to cough up for his trips to his own golf resorts? How much does his own family benefit if we pass his "kindness to the middle class but nothing for me" tax overhaul? Plus gotta love the logic of "I was only one of eight people on that flight"...
13
Trump seems to assembled a unique group of pirates, corrupt monsters who only know pillage and plunder. He and they seek to bankrupt the country, as he did so well and frequently in the corporate world.
9
You're only sorry you got caught. And I'm sure this is just a drop in the bucket.
11
In any other country, or any other period in American history, the man takes responsibility and resigns, or the man who hired him fires him.
But this is Bizarro Trumpworld, so let it roll.
Worst. Most Corrupt. Adminstration. Ever.
13
Price is a slimy little snake not much different from the other cabinet members in this administration. A total hypocrite.
Instead of "draining the swamp" Donald Trump has surrounded himself with the crocodiles that once inhabited the swamp. They are now the United States Government.
Hey, Trump supporters, how is Mr. Price's behavior along with Jared and Ivanka using private e-mails for government business and every single other scandal, lie or lying by omission event including Mexico paying for that "Beautiful Wall" and the incredible healthcare the country now enjoys working out for you?
11
Get the cash back for Scott Pruitt's sound-proof booth for whatever he is doing in there, guarding 3 residencies of Melania and Donald and paying for someone to trail around behind their grown "children" while you are at it.
The Swamp is getting expensive.
12
When will Trump start paying for his lavish expenses. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this wasteful corrupt buffoon has bankrupted his secret service budget for the year in just six months with his large entourage and weekly golf outings. I'm sorry Trump supporters but if that doesn't outrage you then you have to stop claiming you voted for Trump for his business acumen rather then his racist views.
8
What about every other seat?? If he booked private jets, those aren’t one-seaters. He needs to cover the cost of the entire flight. Or split it among whoever traveled with him. Are you listening, Kelly Ann Conway?
5
Last night CNN reported that the actual costs for transporting Price, his wife and his staff on these flights exceeded $1 million...not $52k.
10
If the Governor of California can fly coach, I don't think it is unreasonable for cabinet Secretaries to use commercial airfare. I doubt that he needs an entourage with every meeting, so most places are easily connected by train or plane. Rubbing elbows with the people who do most of the living and working in this country might be good for government officials.
Perhaps the federal government could get a discount for all the plane tickets sold, instead of racking up flier miles for personal use. I guess the bottom line is there should be a policy that applies throughout the agency.
3
It seems to me that if he is paying for his seat the obvious next question is who else was on the plane? Staff members, friends who were bumming a ride or just along for the jaunt, famiily members, or no one. Let's determine just how entitled he thinks he is.
5
Does Price take us all for fools? "The taxpayers" paid to charter these planes, not just for Price's seat IN it. Does this level of chicanery tell us anything about the quality of the current Cabinet and of Pres. Trump's values and judgment in general? Just asking . . . .
8
Paying for "one seat" for a flight that would never have taken off if the "Sec" had not been aboard? How farcical is that?
Reimburse taxpayers fully, and grow a conscience!
5
Let's do an economic analysis to compare the social cost of crime in poor black neighborhoods to the cost of "white collar" crime. Let's just call it "white crime."
Tom Price and the rest of the 1% are the REAL criminals in this country. Since they own the police and now the Justice Department, how shall we stop them?
5
A hedonistic Tom Price, who lashed out at Nancy Pelosi for wallowing in luxurious private jets, now is in cross hairs, for doing exactly the same. Only 26 times. This piece of work, a vociferous voice for repeal and replace ACA, now is on the cusp of being scrutinized with a microscopic lens. If Trump fires him, it will be back to the drawing board of another confirmation hearings for the HHS secretary. Let the games begin.
When many victims of the recent hurricanes have lost all their dwellings, and literally are on the streets, this knucklehead takes a ride and sleeps peacefully with a lucullan life style. One wonders what he was thinking when he was 35000 feet above the earth, nursing, perhaps, a champagne glass. Or not. If he faces any network news anchor and starts blurting out untenable explanations, he will ct a sorry figure. Last night in CNN, Senator Rick Santorum was unscrupulously defending Price's impudent and imprudent actions. Some GOPer he is!
And then there are these Scott Pruitts, and Steve Mnuchins, merrily squandering tax payers' dollars. What is more perturbing is the fact that they are defending themselves with awkward audacity. They need to be nailed.
8
Template:
1. Sorry for what I did
2. I know how this hurt you
3. This is what I am going to do to ameliorate your hurt
3
Funny that a large part of the cabinet all have the same idea: first class private travel at the taxpayers' expense. This entire adminstration is corrupt, starting at the top with a president who uses his job to enrich himself and won't release his tax returns. Trump supporters: the swamp has more critters than ever before. You were duped.
7
All this is nice. Let's see if liberal progressives can focus on the bigger picture issues now that little Tommy Price is going to pay his $52k bill. Now about the huge tax breaks the top 1% in this country are about to receive, versus what the middle class folks like me are not going to get......the tax breaks I am going to get are not going to offset the huge increase in healthcare deductibles and premiums caused by Obamacare. And the tax breaks the top 1% are going to get far outweigh their increases in healthcare insurance costs. And what about the 75% tax subsidy of Obamacare for Democrat and Republican congress people. I NEVER hear liberal progressives talk about this issue, which is important because our congress people's interests now are conflicted with the ordinary citizens'. I want NYT to focus on these issues costing billions of dollars, not kneeling millionaire football players and Don Trump Jr's hunting trips without government security. And let's not forget North Korea.
"In recent days, Mr. Trump fumed to senior aides about the negative headlines over Mr. Price’s travel and the damage it was personally causing the president, according to three officials with direct knowledge of the situation." This from a man who flies Air Force 1 weekly to his golf resorts, even though he expected to be way too busy for golf. Hypocrisy, thy name is Donald Trump.
5
The election of Trump was the equivalent of a complete and total blackout of our federal government so no surprise that the looters are making hay while the sun shines. Icahn, Mnuchin, Price ...what do they care if they are caught? Carl Icahn's motto is "Some people get rich studying artificial intelligence. Me, I make money studying natural stupidity." That's you and me folks. The only way to stop the pillaging is to vote Democrat no matter who is on the ticket. We can't afford to wait for Republicans to kill their Frankenstein.
5
Pay back an eighth? Wow. How "generous" of him.
1
Trump’s response to Price’s antics perfectly illustrates the point of Paul Krugman’s excellent editorial: four verbs, each with the pronoun “I” as its subject. Price is the issue, but for Trump, Trump is the topic
4
Didn't Nancy Pelosi use an Air Force Boeing 757 to commute to San Francisco when she was majority leader? She said she needed the 250 passenger plane for security and privacy. With Democrats assaulting Trump family when they fly commercial, this guy has a stronger case than Pelosi.
1
Obviously he only regrets getting caught.
2
Ahh the hubris, the callous disrespect for the taxpayer, the ego centric self aggrandizement, how very Republican of our fearless Secretary Price.
I thought his lies about healthcare were sickening. I failed to recognize the true republicanism in his haughty and disgusting abuse of office.
I am sure he will be protected by his GOP cronies who are busy lying about the tax cuts and never meant a word of what they claimed be "conservative values" of respecting taxpayer dollars and reducing the national debt.
And to think Price only represents what we know abut the Trump cabinet.
Meet the swamp!!
5
Price should pay back the total costs of each flight, for all seats and crew and refreshments on every flight.
And Price should pay additionally, for the costs encountered in catching him in the act of filling the swamp with his corrupt attitude and cavalier behavior.
And then Price should be fired, as he is a disgrace and incompetent as is his boss.
5
Can i get that deal? Private flights for 12 cents on the dollar? This guy has gall to call himself a public servant? What a joke.
4
Yes, as soon as you earn the right to head a trillion dollar a year agency. If he can save one tenth of one percent of the money wasted by this agency he will have paid for his flights 1000 times over.
The American people sound like spoiled children
How much did Trump spent on futile travels to Maralago, again? Anyway, it has never been about draining the swamp, more pumping it into his own pool...
3
Another dirty, corrupt politician swimming in a sea of fish full of the same. There are so many ways to get money or save money corruptly that I cannot imagine them all. Start with the bribes of lobbyists (lobbying is not in the Constitution). Corruption is and has been taking away the will of the people and getting our precious soldiers (as in Vietnam and Korea) killed for nothing or for money for big business for years and years. Politicians don't offer to serve the country, the crave getting office to fill their pockets. When will people realize this??????
2
Price took military jets to Europe, Asia for over $500K
Accompanied by his wife, the HHS secretary journeyed to Geneva, Berlin, Beijing, Tokyo and other cities for events.
OMG!
4
If Trump had half a brain instead of the lizard mentality now in his head, he would fire Price and tell the Justice Department to stop trying to jail Hillary and instead go after Price for the theft of monies from the Treasury to pay for his little jaunts. Then they should seize his assets and future earnings until the entire amount of his fraud is paid back with interest, not just the token amount for his seat in the plane.
But unfortunately Trump does not have even half a brain and I think I may have insulted the intelligence of laizrds.
3
My dog knows more about quantum mechanics than Secretary Price knows about ethics.
33
DJT to Tom Price: Do as I say, not as I do.
24
If Trump wants to drain the swamp, he should start by resigning and taking the rest of his administration with him.
31
This is nothing. Price would have beeb indicted by now for insider trading, as a legislator yet, if Trump had not quickly fired the SDNY Atty Genl.
But that is nothing compared to Republicans on the Judicial Committee voting Benczkowski out of committee. They want him to to lead the Department of Justice's Criminal Division. Wonder if he'll investigate himself for ties to money-laundering, election rigging Russian banks?
7
These people are public servants who supposedly work for us. Yet it's clear that many in the Trump administration are treating the Treasury like their own personal piggy bank.
In the 1980s, we were all outraged by stories about the Pentagon buying overpriced items like the "$800 hammer" from defense contractors. Why isn't there universal outrage from people of every political stripe about this? It now appears that Price himself cost taxpayers more than $1 M because he wanted a private jet. Then there's Conway, Mnuchin, Ross, Zinke, Cohn, and probably others who did it, too....
Finally, it's outrageous and unacceptable that Price is only offering to pay about 5% of what he cost us. He should have to repay the entire amount. The others should have to repay the entire amount, also. And then they should all be fired.
23
Yet another Trump administration employee who is not draining the swamp, but filling it with swamp water. Perhaps Mr. Price, Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Mnuchin's wife should start bailing.
Right...I trust this adminstration. Talk about corruption. They've barely gotten started and I think they're ahead of Marcos, one of the most corrupt governments the world has ever seen. The good ole USA is marching down the road to second world status. This is how it always starts.
16
Price has now said he will reimburse ~$50k of the 400k he wasted....he is flipping off the taxpayers: US
13
$400,000 taxpayer dollars in travel on private jets is outrageous!
What about Trump's $70,000,000 taxpayer money in sixty golf trips to all those Trump luxurious resorts.
16
Turns out that according to Politico, Price didn't waste $400K on his personal quest to avoid the American people, he spent $1M avoiding middle seats and the TSA. And he plans on paying back only $51K. What a guy! It's not hard to understand why he thought insider trading as a Congressman was OK with chutzpah at Price's level.
I wonder, are Trumpanzees proud that their boy has turned the swamp into a bad imitation of Dynasty? At leasst DeVos has the good taste to fly around the country in her own plane, which I assume she bill the taxpayers for.
10
We've come a long way since that roll of 3 cent stamps for personal mail that Truman kept in his Oval Office desk.
9
Price says he'll pay for his seat? This is a tone deaf response.
8
So, the cheapskate whose net worth is more than $13 million, and whose eyes go all a-flutter at the delicious prospect of repealing Obamacare, essentially stole $400,000 from HHS's budget (i.e. you and me) by chartering private planes for his travel. He's now kindly offering to pay back $51,000 of it, which he says covers his own seat. What about the mini-pretzels and ginger ale? Price should also enroll in an ESL course, since he seemed to apologize "for the activities I took."
15
And to think Price gave up a perfectly good job of insider trading only to throw it away for some free plane rides.
20
Tom Price has a character defect. Look at the Ethics complaints surrounding his Insider trading schemes revealed during his confirmation process. He should have NEVER been confirmed. He needs to repay money, in full and be terminated.
14
This noble concession by Tom "Posh Spice" Price should set a precedent, or "Pricedent": One who is caught achieving gain shall sacrifice 1/7th of foresaid discovered gain.
So: a touchdown in a football game scored by cheating nets only 6 points (with extra kick). Or a taxpayer shirking $70K in taxes, and discovered by the IRS, will forfeit $10K.
4
Let's not forget that John Sununu, former Chief of Staff to the first president Bush, was dismissed for taking an official vehicle from D.C. to NYC for a stamp show and David Watkins, White House director of administration under president Clinton, was given his walking papers immediately after the president found out that he took Marine One, the president's helicopter for a 55 mile jaunt to a golf course. It seems like a long time ago that at a very minimum even the appearance of the slightest impropriety was to be avoided and appropriately dealt with. Not apparently with the current occupant of the White House and his ilk. Perhaps the "swamp" referenced ad nauseam that needed draining was merely going to be for new condominiums and helipads for the Trump administration cabinet and its hangers-on...
12
Oh, Trump's drained the swamp and funneled the swamp water directly into the administration and the Oval Office.
4
Chartering jets at exorbitant costs was bad enough, but his "let them ride coach" comment when confronted was the final straw.
4
I believe so little of the defensive propaganda. Everything this administration does is about gutting America.
9
This cost is probably minuscule compared to what is being spent by Trump for his trips to Florida and New Jersey
12
"Mr. Price's offer could set a precedent". You mean to say this outrageous behavior is common in this administration. Remember: the first inclination from these guys was to take advantage of the taxpayers. The thought never crossed their minds that it might not be the right thing to do. Until they got caught, of course. And the thought they had when they started doing it was they wouldn't get caught. But alas. ...that free press thing. The fake news thing.....Always gets in the way. Doesn't it? Unless you are the president and your family is being shuttled around with secret service in tow, doing private business, skiing, and hunting. And you will massively benefit from your tax cuts. Only you were smart enough to not release your tax returns so no one would be the wiser. Trump is outraged. Yeah, right. The fish stinks from the head on down. But the base will eat it up and ,once again, look the other way. Absolutely amazing.
8
He was shown to be an unethical, corrupt person during his hearings and it was ignored. It is no surprise that he continues to cheat and lie as Secretary. It does not matter how much j he pays back, he's corrupt and always has been and the only honorable thing is for him to resign.
5
The corruption is thorough, don't forget Mnuchin, Pruitt, and Zinke! Plus the ones we don't know about (how does the Family travel).
No more trust.
4
The stunning arrogance of a USA DOCTOR who would begrudge basic health care to the poor but travel elegantly on the public dime! Iconic of the administration and its picks to run the nation's departments!
11
In his statement, Mr. Price says that "I have spent forty years as a doctor and in public service putting people first..."
Sorry but his actions in throwing millions off their health plan belie his words. And now he is trying to squirm his way out of paying what he really owes the taxpayers for his elitist actions. This so called physician is just another liar in a large swamp showing contempt for the American people.
4
Drain the swamp?...I think that it's pretty clear by now that Trump and his administration is the swamp.
9
What is this nonsense about "his part of the bill?" Would those planes have flown absent his charter? If not, he should reimburse 100% - not 1/8th.
10
As we have all learned by now, a promise from anyone in the Trump administration isn't worth squat. Let's see real evidence of his reimbursement and then kick his arrogant but to the curb.
3
this headline is misleading, it implies he's actually refunding the government in full. 'price refuses to fully pay back taxpayers for private air travel'
Surely in the United States of Litigation here is team of TV lawyers willing to mount a class action suit against Price for his abuse of American citizens.
1
Price should never have been confirmed as HHS Secretary because he is as unfit for his job as Trump is for his. During his tenure in the House, Price bought and sold stock in companies which had direct connections to his work in the healthcare industry--he usd inside information to make money and had the unmitigated gall to blame his broker for the trades. He is utterly shameless and should be fired immediately.
4
The "Times" buried the lead on this: Price is paying only for his SEAT, not the entire cost of chartered flights HE ordered up! Deplorable hypocrisy! Like Trump, Price is paying only a fraction of what he owes!
Add to Price's bill to taxpayers those run up for personal luxuries by the EPA administrator and Interior secretary-- we're getting up toward $3 MILLION !
They're running government "like a business" alright-- ones with spendthrift overpaid CEOs!
105
As anyone with an ounce of sense knows, Trump and his coterie is picking the pockets of every American in the service of "getting theirs."
Price, Mnuchin, Ivanka, the POTUS himself... all are busy enriching themselves while preaching austerity, tax "cuts" and "saving America," and laughing at all of us for buying it.
It's the American way, apparently.
9
I am not a historian, but I have to believe that this Trump administration has to be one of the worst, if not the absolute worst, to have ever presided over our country. Clearly, "Trump" and "swamp" have essentially become synonymous or interchangeable terms...Let's drain the "Trump Swamp"!.
Hopefully, the Mueller investigation will complete its investigation soon. Then we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing that the impeachment hearings will begin shortly thereafter!
5
I wouldn't hold your breath that the GOP will impeach so easily. Then again if they do impeach him will they expel him? Impeachment is nothing without expulsion.
1
wow - I'm shocked there's no comment I could find somehow justifying Price or deflecting ("what about [insert Democrat name here]?"). But then again, Price is not 45. In fact, he's probably one of least wealthy cabinet members. Relatively speaking, he's one of the "poor people" 45 didn't want for his cabinet. Let's see if another bites the dust.
2
Goody, next year I'll pay back 10% of whatever I steal from stores, and 10% of whatever I owe in taxes. That should satisfy the merchants and the government, and I'll be oh so virtuous!
6
In any business situation, this man would be fired. If a Democrat had done this there would be senate investigations and no end of people calling for his head. He needs to go.
11
He's repaying an eighth of the cost of the travel, AN EIGHTH?
7
How about a new law: get caught stealing from taxpayers and you owe DOUBLE what you stole. PLUS, your tax returns are reviewed--publicly--for 5 consecutive years. Oh, and the crime goes on your record as a felony.
People in this country get thrown in jail for broken brake lights. I think the above measures are pretty light.
6
It's amazing how honest and forthright these politicians become when the're caught. It shouldn't have cost the taxpayers anything from the start and it should have been expected. While the Republicans were peddling an austere healthcare bill Price was spending money like he was royalty. Price knew better - time to let him go.
3
No one does grifting better than a politician from a red state. They rail about the need for tax cuts and that there's a bloated federal bureaucracy, while simultaneously taking more from our coffers than their states pay in.
8
He's only reimbursing for himself I believe. That's about 10% of the total cost.
2
As a key architect of the various failed efforts to replace Obamacare with Don T. Care (Dontcare for short), a more meaningful reparation would be declaring himself forevermore a "single payer" believer and advocate. With that move he might even get some crowdfunding cash to help pay for his travel bill.
I know, dream the impossible dream. It's a means of comfort.
2
Why isn't Secretary Price in prison for his insider trading when he was a Congressman from Georgia? Instead, perhaps fittingly, he is serving an even bigger crook, Donald Trump. If Price doesn't get fired for making Donald Trump look bad, he should be forced to fly coach in the back of the plane with the rest of us.
3
With his smarmy countenance, his unwillingness to answer the question asked, his suave lies, I feel like I'm watching a movie by David Mamet.
2
Good chance for Trump to make a big show of draining the swamp (albeit he hired Price); we'll see. Price broke the law incidentally, although this doesn't seem to factor into the current debate. The criminal corruption of Trump and his administration literally knows no bounds. And read Price's public statements about this, all of which suggest he merely misjudged public perception rather than broke the law. Trump hasn't drained the swamp; he's invited more crocodiles into it.
3
Great - now when will Trump apply a rebuke to himself and stop wasting taxpayer dollars on his unnecessary jaunts to his Florida, New Jersey and other properties?
5
Tom Price owes US taxpayers $1 million, not a penny less. If Mr. Price does not sign a check for that amount, Mr. Trump should drain the swamp and fire Mr. Price.
2
Meanwhile, Trump totally abuses the system, costing taxpayers millions while profiteering.
4
Add $500 k for flights on military aircraft for overseas travel, approved by the WH. World tour, really. Mrs Price went too.
3
Hey! Where can I get in on this? Where can I charter a whole jet and then only have to pay for one business class seat? I want in!
7
He doesn't seem chastened. Annoyed to be caught and called out, possibly. And he owes taxpayers another $350,000.
2
So he's promising one tenth of what's owed. He needs to pay the whole. And, as with Trump's charitable contributions, don't hold your breath. I suppose Trump could dump him. But the more things change . . . we would see just another one ransacking the public treasury.
1
What comes to mind is the question: who do these guys think they are. The obvious answer fills me with rage.
4
There are clear and strict guidelines to government-funded travel, which every NIH-funded scientist is familiar with -- how on earth these rules would not apply to governmental employees is beyond comprehension. I sincerely hope that someone is building a legal case to allow the tax-paying citizens of this country to sue these grifters. Price is but one head of the Trump swamp hydra, and every one of them is stealing our money.
6
This guy is a politician's politician.
He'd make a great mayor of Atlantic City.
it all flows from the ethics of the boss
Hey, all you Trump voters struggling to buy food and health care?
winning yet?
3
Price charted entire planes, but only wants to pay for one seat!
3
Trump views this as "undercutting his drain the swamp message." The swamp will disappear through climate change. It's the swamp creatures that Trump hired that I'm worried about.
1
Yeah. Now we know that Price has charged over a million dollars to chartered and military air flights, and he has agreed to pay back $50,000!
Price is a crook, pure and simple. This theft of taxpayer funds is matched by his illegal insider stock deals while he was in Congress.
This is how Trump drains the swamp--by hiring swamp creatures like Price. He must resign immediately.
4
Price should be fired. One less right wing extremists will make the world a better place.
Trump may use Price as an example of draining the swamp. If only Trump could drain himself and his entire administration. It will be most welcome.
2
Sorry Mr. Price, but you don't parcel out seat costs when you charter a jet. You cover the cost of the FLIGHT (fuel, pilot fees, etc). That is how it works in private jet world. The "seat cost", which you invented by the way, comes out to less than 13% of the cost of the flight. Is that the deal all Administration members should get?--They can pay 13% of private jet flights and the American public will pay the other 87%? No way!
4
“In recent days Mr. Trump fumed to senior aides about the negative headlines over Mr. Price’s travel and the damage it was personally causing the president..”
As usual it’s all about Trump. No mention of the damage to the ordinary American taxpayer. We now have “institutionalized corruption” running our country.
3
Susan,
I was wondering when someone would point out this bit of misguided anger on our President’s part! If only he had a clue on how to run a large complex global organization! But even if the President did know how to run a large organization his ego would prevent him from actually getting the important work done as in the end it’s all about himself all the time...
2
Price was wrong and he should pay and be fired.
I bet he isn't the only one
I am sure there are many people like Price who are guilty of the same behavior;
They are not only in government.
They say one thing and do the opposite and feel they can get away with it.
The problem is this person can be you and maybe even me.
This is human nature.
Telling him to pay and expecting him to resign or be fired is justified.
I believe most of us are basically good,
None of us are perfect.
There is no need to call him names that only see him for this one thing he did that was wrong.
That is what a child would do.
,
2
I'd be surprised if there were no non-compliances in the requisite, submitted expense report forms (federal records) required to justify disbursements for these travel expenses. Material omissions in any such required records usually incur statutory penalties. Until now, numerous instances of omissions on security background check forms by president's staff have been reported, without until now, administration of penalties for those felonies, so what's the disincentive for monetary gratification?
1
Something I want to hear more on:
Who are the U.S. multi-millionaires and billionaires who remain in Trump's corner and/or who are actively assisting him? Or who have assisted him over the course of his career?
So many of these cabinet appointments have felt as though some quid pro quo arrangement between Trump and associates had earlier transpired.
I hope there are journalists out there hunting this stuff down.
An extension of: follow the money.
2
I buy a Amtrak monthly pass -can I just pay for my seat? It will be a lot cheaper that the $300.
5
Why is anyone surprised when a political does the exact opposite of what he has complained about while in office.
2
As a scientist with a faculty appointment to a medical school I have to adhere to extremely strong and rigid ethical rules. Apparently, at the level of Mr Trump's cabinet appointments rules are honored more in the breach than in the observance.
As a parent, I must now strive to explain to my children that moral behavior is appropriate even when Mr Trump and his cabinet make a mockery out of it and use the power of office to consume public resources and behave like autocrats. It is a hard task.
2
Your children will be fine. It's children who come up without such guidance who behave as the Trump family does.
1
1. When a government official does not use standard public transportation, the official should certify, in a form for that purpose, the extraordinary circumstances that are deemed to warrant the additional cost. If the certification is not truthful or is false and made without regard to the truth, the official would be subject to loss of office and the penalties for making a false statement.
2. There should be a government travel office official who should countersign the form, certifying that alternative public transportation is not available to meet the travel needs specified in the form.
When a public official uses charter transportation, without following the foregoing procedure, or the official has willfully made a false certification, then be should be personally liable for the full cost of the flight, less what the cost for public transport would have been for him and others who accompanied him.
No, not just his seat, but the seat of his wife or friends/family, his aides, and basically for each flight. He ordered the travel, the aides & staff couldn't say no, it's all his responsibility. I know he is one of the poorer members of the cabinet, (est worth around $10 million) but too bad. (Seems a bit of a cheapskate really). His mistake, his responsibility. As a former senator, he should have known better, since it's an issue he complained about in the Senate. Any lesser Federal employee would have been fired on the spot.
Expensive lesson, hopes he learns from it, even if he doesn't keep his job. Maybe it will help balance off against the money he made from insider trading on companies that were subject to regulations from his committee in the Senate. Karma.
They don't call it public SERVICE for nothing.
3
The question isn't whether Price writing a check to the US Gov't is the right thing to do. The questions are 1. Should he have flown on a private jet at the U.S. taxpayer's expense in the first place, and 2. Would he have paid it back if he had not gotten caught? The answers, in my opinion, are 1. No and 2. No, likely not.
3
We keep hearing about all these administration and congressional doctors: Price, Cassidy, Carson, and there are probably more. Even if they know what "Do no harm" means in the narrow medical sense, they obviously do not grasp that it might have relevance for the wider world in which we and they. If they did, they would not engage in the kind of behavior that is gratuitously harmful to the country. Physician, heal thyself, and then call me in the morning.
If he charted the plane as a individual then he should pay the whole thing
It's like renting a car,
They charge you for the use of the car, not by how many people used he car.
Did he charter these planes.
If so then before I judge him I would like to get his side of the story.
I think he feels he did nothing wrong and had the right to use these planes and not be charged.
I would understand how he would feel this way if he was using these planes for official government business.
He sees himself as not just being a person traveling from one place to another
to get to work
He sees himself as being the department he heads so when he travels it's equivalent to moving the entire department.
I understand him if this is the logic he is using.
I might even agree with it to some extent.
If his is the case then I might even agree with him.
Big companies have corporate jets that that are used by the executives who run the company.
I am sure this is his logic.
So to him paying even one cent is
So in his mind
what he state he will is more than he has to.
I would like to hear his explanation
Your kidding right, Dr Price - former Congressman no less. This is the type leaders we have in Congress, those too good for commercial flights that the little people barely can take and Dr. Price prefers private travel - too late you got caught and everyone else who does this should be called out on it, reimburse the Govt and then be fired.
1
The government has some planes that are used by high ranking officials. I know that the Coast Guard has two Gulfstream jets which fly the Commandant and Homeland Security officials.
I'm assuming there are other similar planes. So why would Price have had to charter private jets?
Maybe Trump is angry that Price didn't succeed in the Obamacare repeal effort and this is a way to punish him. Price has the reputation for being kind of weak when it comes to ethics, but I'm sure that's not what troubles DJT.
2
It really is pretty astounding that these millionaires are treating the Treasury as their own personal slush fund. Mnuchin wanted the taxpayer to pay for his honeymoon trip. Price had us paying for trips with a personal agenda. Oh, and Mr. Zinke, the Interior Secretary has also used charter flights - according to the Washington Post he paid over 12K for a flight -gee the fact it was owned by an oil and gas company isn't important is it? Of course the fact Mr. Trump is benefiting daily from people paying to stay at his facilities, getting rent from the U.S. government, the conflicts of interest regarding his hotels, etc. makes it rather interesting that he is coming unglued because his cabinet appointees misused travel funds. Maybe they were just following his lead. It must be rather perplexing for them .
2
It's not perplexing. This is the super rich predator class. It's just take, take, take, as much as you can for as long as you can get away with it. They're all playing the same game, they know the gig won't last forever, but they'll steal from us everything they can possibly steal in the meantime.
1
While I do not support Secretary Price keeping his job, the Constitution says, "all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" (Article 2, Section 4). This abuse of the taxpayer would be a high crime in my book, but let's have the indictment and trial he deserves. Public shaming is a greater penalty than $51,000 to a man as rich as Tom Price. And perhaps more of a disincentive to further malfeasance in the administration.
So, the question becomes "what is a civil officer of the United States"? not defined in the Constitution, but perhaps those confirmed by the Senate would be a good place to start. If the Senate must confirm them, shouldn't the Senate be the one to fire them (via conviction)? Was that the intent of the founders? Perhaps they wrote something more, somewhere else, that others are familiar with? If a president wanted to remove someone, he could propose the article(s) of impeachment to the House to start the process. Likely many would resign.
Mr Price is just the current face of abuse by the Trump Administration.
All of these millionaires/billionaires do not realize that they are now Federal employees. They are working for the American people, not themselves.
Tax dollars are not to be used to keep them in their lavish lifestyle. Their private companies are no longer picking up their travel tabs - we are.
Why is there no designated per diem and travel allowance amount?
All other Federal employees have them, and when they spend over the allotted amount, they must pay the difference out of their own pocket.
I never thought I would say anything complementary about Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, but at least she is either using her own plane, or paying her own way, as she prefers private travel over commercial.
So, the fiscal conservative runs up a bill of around $400,000 in taxpayer money and then he says he will make it right by paying back $50,000. My arithmetic says the taxpayers are still being stiffed to the tune of $350,000. I am so glad the swamp is being drained. This is refreshing.
3
Price was already ethically compromised when he was in Congress, using his insider position to trade health stocks. It's no surprise to me that he just went on acting like an entitled spoiled elite swanning about with private travel the second he got the opportunity. I don't think he has any concern about our health care whatsoever; how can he relate to our problems with costs and quality of care when he's got such a taste for the high life and a federal health plan?
That being said, it's also a bit rich to see Trump chasten him when Trump personally spends 3 million a pop just to head to Mar-A-Lago every other weekend.
2
A whole eighth?
A new hero has arisen. One trusts that he'll be reimbursing at the same rate in regard to his insider trading on health care stocks.
1
Would love this to set a precedent: that anyone improperly profiting from taxpayer money, be they politicians (starting at the top), corporate and defense sector fat cats, govt or private employees, tax evaders or those getting loopholes via powerful lobbies, immensely wealthy Osteen-type religious groups getting tax-free status, just to name a few- reimburse the money.
Then I bet that we would find the money to fix the many problems in this country.
But I know it's just a dream
1
In-your-face private privilege, as steward of public Health and Human Services.
Let's be clear: reimbursing $50,000 of a $400,000 bill is not reimbursement or atonement. As Price profited by insider knowledge while in Congress, let him use his ill-gotten gains to truly reimburse us.
(Of course, the WH and his agency would approve whatever arrangements he made. We have Gorsuch, a Supreme Court judge just yesterday adding to the President's personal coffers at a speaking event and we have a Cabinet who is on tax payer's salaries when their mission is to destroy their own agencies. Oversight by Congress? This Congress? you jest.)
1
The New Math -- by Trump & Friends
Q. A cabinet secretary improperly charters private aircraft costing taxpayers $400,000. If the cabinet secretary repays taxpayers for causing $400,000 in improper costs, how much has the cabinet secretary repaid?
A. $51,887.
1
The next time Price flies, I'll be happy to send him on a charter flight if he pays for his own seat. But the rest of the plane I'm only providing until his seat gets to cruising altitude.
3
Let’s be very clear: he said he would pay for HIS SEAT. The rest of the plane will still be paid for by the taxpayer.
1
I could more easily understand Trump's displeasure with Price's expenditures creating negative headlines if the President's own fiscal dealings were clean. But this is the charcoal colored kitchen calling the kettle black.
Sorry I robbed the bank, I'll be good and give the money back. That's what this sounds like.
1
Tom Price’s behavior is emblematic of the swamp that Trump promised to drain. Hiring private jets at taxpayer expense is just his latest escapade. He made hundreds of thousands of dollars through insider trading on health care stocks when he was a senator working on health care legislation. But apparently it is not illegal for our elected representatives to make money on insider trading while they are serving in Congress. Lock him up.
He was a rep, not a senator.
Meh...he'll be fired soon. Not because he squandered a bit of money that amounts to about two Christmas parties for an orthopedic surgeon. No, he'll be fired for not helping to snatch health insurance from millions of Americans, while protecting big pharma and the insurance industry.
Seriously, has this been the longest 8 months, or what?!
1
The cost so far, of all the charter flights by all the cabinet secretaries combined still does not equal that of one of Trump's weekends in Mar-a-Lago.
2
The taxpayer won't pay a dime for my seat--and then Price offers to pay about 12 percent of the total cost. Who else did he bring along that he is unwilling to pay for? Time to drain the swamp including the Liar in Chief.
No tax "cuts" until we see Trump's taxes--let's see how he will benefit from these proposals. I know as a small business owner that I will pay 10 percent more on my business income than I am currently paying-
And how does it make sense to raise the deficit in order to give the wealthy tax cuts?
Teapot Dome, meet the hydrogen bomb of corrupt regency: Trump clan and associates.
Speaking of extravagant flight plans, what about Trump's size envy of the Emir of Kuwait's private jet leading him to 'supersize' his order for the new Air Force One. Surely, no linkage between Boeing pandering to that request and Wilbur Ross singling out Canada for punitive tariffs on their jets for the commuter market.
1
Once again the free press comes to the rescue. Where would we be if we listened to our current government leader? Unbiased reporters are a blessing for our democracy!
2
My gosh, when will this administration end?
9
Price is the ultimate sleazy hypocrite in this matter. His obvious intent was to continue to incur the $1 million + in costs for his private charter joy ride flights, for us taxpayers to pay. He would have continued to do so, but Politico caught him doing his scheme.
Today he said he'll pay $51,000 for said flights. He must pay the $1 million, since he did it, and we taxpayers shouldn't have to subsidize his balance for his personal greed.
It has been noted that Price is worth $12 million. Consequently, he can easily afford to pay the $1 million, which is a drop in the bucket for him.
President Trump needs to drain his swamp of this "Swamp Thing", who otherwise will continue to sleaze and charge us taxpayers on everything he can, at their trough of greed.
70
"Price is worth $12 million"
Them that has, gets.
That’s about as promising as insane asylum patients regulating other patients medication. Just saying.
1
What a an honorable American, worthy of holding the peoples' trust. Game plan: Fill your pockets, talk out of the side of your mouth, laugh all the way to the bank. Along with Steve Mnuchin, he's making America Great Again.
What kind of arrogance breeds this contempt for public service and the American people?
101
Never have I seen a more abusive regime. Trump using campaign funds to pay legal fees, price using private jets. Trump is seeking a windfall from tax reform, corruption to the hilt.
110
He has been in government this long and din't understand that this private jet stuff was patently unethical? He is only going to pay back his own share of the flights?
Who is going to pay the share of his aides? Pork barrel politics lives in the heart of this shameless man.
What was the famous quote from the Queen of Hearts, Alice in Wonderland?
38
Are you kidding? Profligate when no one is looking and a miser when asked to compensate. Want tax cuts that will pay for themselves? Reimburse me for all the Air Force One trips to Mar a Lago and Bedminster and tax CEOs $25 a trip (what I pay to check a bag) for their private flights.
42
This cat that ate the canary is not chastened, he's a seasoned crook! In fact, that's why he was nominated for the position.
45
Yes, to call him "chastened" is cute, but we all know better. The New York Times should stop with the quaint rhetoric of another era and call graft, corruption, and abuse what it is.
Interesting way to “drain the swamp”, Mr Trump. Why did we ever doubt you?
34
It's not the price of the seat. It's the total cost of the plane not remaining on the tarmac.
48
The most corrupt Presidential administration Ever is fully supported by the equally corrupt and hypocritical GOP Congress.
Will anything happen to Price?
Doubt it.
By the way, add in the cost of using military planes and Price racked up almost $1 Million in air travel costs Since May.
38
It's harder to schedule public flights to your family or an eclipse when you have to compete with average folks for the holidays.Many who signed on with Trump thinking that because he gets away with so much think they can to. I hope whistle-blowers continue to force transparency to shine a light on those ugly swamp waters.
34
Excuse me, Mr President, you've taken how many trips to your properties in NYC and Florida on the taxpayers' dime? I guess that makes you an expert in inappropriate and excessive government spending for one's own personal purposes.
70
He's reimbursing a tenth of the cost. The man's a millionaire. How about paying the whole bill?
32
The Army Corps of Engineers couldn't dig a swamp big enough for these characters.
45, The Smash & Grab Presidency.
43
Price reminded me of an old saying by Lincoln: "the only thing he won't steal is a red hot stove."
35
Change his first name from "Tom" to "Over."
19
The clown car should be enough to get the cabinet around.
24
Can we now step up the investigation into Tom Price's insider trading in medical stocks based on information he acquired as a member of Congress? http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/01/tom-price-introduced-bill-t...
47
Qu'ils mangent de la brioche.
Did Tom Price book these flights using his private email?
Just another ripple in the swamp.
11
This guy is in trouble. Only the Trump family is permitted to profit directly from this con.
...Andrew
39
I am sure the hard-core Trump supporter won't bat an eye. This is- after all what the rich are entitled too: Envisioning they would do the same if given the opportunity.
24
Shortly after confirmation, this man went on the Sunday shows and said he wanted to repeal Obamacare, not for the benefit of who would be insured but because he couldn't conscience asking people to pay for it. Hypocrite.
32
“The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.”
Note he is only willing to pay for his seat. And he won't pay for the empty seats.
30
So this is how the multi-millionaire class remains so: Use everyone else's money because we're too rich to use our own.
25
That isn't news. For years, how-tos have been written and seminars conducted about using laws, loopholes, and other people's money to get rich and stay that way.
Oh, the rank hypocrisy in Trump berating Price for misusing government money and resources. And how much is a "seat" on Air Force One every time Trump needs to rejuvenate at Mar a Lago?
30
And the Trump International Hotel has posted a profit of $2 for the last quarter (off an occupancy rate of just 47%) but oddly there's no detail in the accounts relating to revenue/profit derived from foreign governments. We'll all recall his undertaking to pass that portion of the hotel's profits on to the U.S. taxpayer but will he do so?
Frankly, I doubt it. He'll rely on his base to forget the undertaking or simply to overlook the ethical breach (what's an 'ethic'?).
1
Let us add another layer of questioning, not only the cost of the flights, but what does he do or say once he has landed? He visited a gym recently in Colorado that treats folks with substance abuse issues. Price's statement was that the gym was an excellent example of local solutions to difficult issues that the federal government should not be involved in. Huh? The gym is a great idea to boost endorphins and confidence anywhere. And this is not something that could be generalized across the country as a great idea from his position?
Paying for flights to deliver drivel is a really really expensive cost to tax payers.
.
14
Bet he won't be flying so high for the rest of his time as Secy. Either that or the various lobbyists and big businesses that he is fronting for will sent their jets for his use... Maybe the Koch Bros?
3
It's one thing to commit a transgression for which you can be pardoned for reason of naivete.
Another thing to rail against use of private jets while you're a Congressman, then commit same transgression when you got elected to a higher position; also hypocritical to be head of HHS and be supportive of repeal of Ocare which will take insurance away from constituents, and be dipping from public trough to a tune of almost 1 million dollars for private jet use.
Drain the swamp of hypocrites.
8
What kind of planes was this guy chartering? Was it a single seat fighter jet?
He's going to re-imburse for his, "seat," on the plane. So, if he chartered a 747, it would be about the cost of a tourist class "seat" on a Jet Blue flight to Miami?
Mr. Price thinks we are all stupid. A carefully worded explanation for getting caught committing a felony he will never be charged with. Mr. Trump, please, do us and the country a big favor, and fire this guy.
15
What a weasel! Assuring us he'll pay a pittance for his "seat." Such contempt for his fellow Americans. Sad.
7
When a government official does something this blatantly unethical and then seems surprised and annoyed by the backlash, you can bet that what's going on behind the scenes is much, much worse.
But then again, it's typical for the Trump administration. Liars, thieves, and bigots.
11
He will pay for his seat - not the whole plane - its laughable
4
He's paying back the cost of his SEAT not the cost of the flight! That is only $53,000 out of a total of $300,000 the use of the private planes cost. What a crook. So arrogant to desire so strongly to deprive Americans of their health care so there are more spoils for him to pocket.
8
Yes, you will repay all the costs of the private jets. Then, you will resign, because the fact that you thought it was okay to hire the private jets in the first place shows you are unfit for the office you hold.
8
Who does Price think he is. He is a crook in an expensive suit. The White House needs to lay down the law on this wasteful use of TAXPAYER MONEY. Of course that would include Trump's trips to Mar a Lago. No wonder Price has that little grin or smirk on his face. Another one of Trump's losers; a man with NO integrity. Talk about trying to dupe everyone and enjoy cushy travel.
8
Now, if only Trump would do the same. The man is going to bankrupt the country on his travel alone!
51
Secret Service for his family, too!
1
So did Obama. He racked up 10 trillion debt. Where were all you liberals at that time. With that said, I think Trump should fire couple of these secretaries. That will be good
Your correct but no one else seems to realize this!
I'm glad to see the President can feel passionate about something other than black football players. It's almost no longer worth noting that his primary concern is on the effect that Price's poor judgement is having on him personally. Now if he could only direct that same insight back toward himself, and consider the impact not only of paying for his New York palace protection, but the immense costs of his almost-weekly trips to play golf at Mar-A-Lago.
35
$3 million a weekend to Mar a Lago, then there's new Jersey...And what about all of those Trump brand water bottles on the conference tables in the White House? No wonder the OGE boss, Shaub, quit!
2
He's planning on paying $59K out of $400,000...."You're Fired!"
43
Sure hope he didn't let his medical license expire, he may need to use it, but, I'd never let him be my doctor.
That's some pretty cagey language there Tommy boy. “The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.” I wonder what one seat on a 30 seat charter costs. This guy needs to go, Trump.
38
Zero ethics, and even less honor. Anyone else would have been impeached by now, but the fretful, whiny Rs lack bravery. And even with the obvious and ostentatious waste of taxpayer money, his supporters don't get it and never will.
31
This doctor is in favor of repeal and replace that would deprive the poor and the elderly and millions of other Americans of health care while he flies around in private plans to the tune of $400,000 and then he writes a personal check AS IF .......
45
Hogwash, I won't believe he has written a check until the New York Times shows both the front and back of it.
5
Sara hokabee has the talking points ready; secretary Price will soon pay $54,000 into the trump inauguration fund and the additional $1,000,000 was paid through the Trump foundation in form of scholarship credits at Trump university and steaks and hats for discounts to Puerto Rican’s.
Excellent! In a related development Joseph Stalin 'regrets' the 35 million people, and he says he'll match Tom Price's repayment plan by bringing 3 million back to life. Film at 11!
26
Why it was all intended to make America great again, so why all the fuss?
5
In private industry CEOs have fired, even jailed, e.g. Taco for shower curtain and lavish parties for what amounts fraud. But here there are no stockholders, just the taxpayers who must rely on corrupt lazy politicians to do what a US Attorney would do. At least fire the bum. He should pay the entire cost of each flight he ordered, not just his seat. Fire the thief.
43
Aside from anything else, why was it necessary for this fraud to spend so much time gallivanting around the world in the first place. He isn't the Secretary of State. He's head of HHS.
52
Andrew, in a related story, EPA chief Pruitt has installed a $25,000 cone of silence booth in his office. It's the EPA, NOT THE CIA!
He’s making Trump look so bad. Unauthorized trade. Basically stealing Trumps thunder. Trump voters want Trump to do that. Not some babyfaced minion. Sickening to think of this babyfaced minion with so many skeletons in his personal life closet galavanting around parading his newfound wealth and power anywhere outside of the US
he should pay and then resign... let us not forget the others!
thank you watchdogs.
37
"Mr. Trump, who is known to dislike appearances of financial waste..."
Uh, where do you get this reasoning from the King of gaudy excess?
29
Drain the swamp. Start with the WH staff and the Cabinet.
The abuse of taxpayers is the modus operandi of the Reprobate Party, which is why the "In Crowd" doesn't want to be part of the taxpaying public.
As the Great Man said. only fools pay taxes.
17
Or, as Lorena Helmsly put it, "Taxes are for the LITTLE people."
5
Let's see the cleared check.
What about the full amount, 400,000?
Have I missed anything?
Yes, RESIGN!
30
The total cost of his trips has now exceeded ONE MILLION.
Lock em' up!
40
Another corrupt man in a high kevel position taking advantage of the American taxpayer. Any one on the government payroll should have to fly coach like the rest of our taxpayers. Everyone in the Administration should reimburse the full amount to the Treasery. By the way, John Sununu was fired as George HW Bush's Chief of Staff for doing the same thing. And he only did it once. I guess times were different back then
32
I'm sure all of the taxpayers who work minimum age appreciate the irony.
1
So the Swamp Drainer In Chief is upset - not because of any ethical violation or misuse of public funds on Price's part, but because it reflects badly on Don The Con himself. What a toadstool he is.
32
Drain the Pocketbooks! Wasn't that the real Trump slogan? Let's deduct these travel bills from Price's salary. Or should we "LOCK HIM UP!" for theft?
15
This is the swamp, plain and simple.
If anyone did this who worked with me, they would FIRST resign their job, THEN pay pack the total amount.
The idea that he is keeping his job is demonstration that the Trump administration IS THE VERY SAME SWAMP that they asked to drain.
Especially combined with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin flying on the public dime to see the Eclipse from Fort Knox, Trump hosing everyone at his own private clubs, Thief Justice Neil Gorsuch doing speaking engagements at the Trump Hotel, and EVERYTHING about Jared and Ivanka.
This is even more aspirational than Hillary and her Clinton Foundation. This is graft.
13
Isn't Secretary Price a little short on paying his tab?
18
He's qualifying his response: He's saying he'll pay for his "seat," not the cost of the jet. Reimbursement for a seat is probably the cost of a first class ticket. The cost of the jet is probably about 10 times that amount. Will someone hold these people accountable? Slimy, sleazy, swampy.
26
Let me steal money from bank. And if FBI catches me, then I can return it and go back to stealing again.
This is what all in DJT family and cabinets believe.
Rules don't apply to them except if you're of color or poor white.
5
The same sense of entitlement that made him charter jets is at play when he offers to pay back an eighth of what he spent and then claims taxpayers "won't pay a dime" for his seats. Some logic. Most corrupt, most wasteful, most incompetent administration in my lifetime.
27
Either he's pretty dumb or he thinks we are.
4
Possibly he can use some of his gains from insider trading ...
10
Price's ethical and fudiciary misstep should come as no surprise. His past behavior shows that he just needed another way to swindle the public. This is independent of his ad nauseum claim that access to health care means receiving health care. FIRED.
From PBS, 2/8/7
HHS secretary nominee Tom Price showed little restraint in his personal stock trading during the three years that federal investigators were bearing down on a key House committee on which the Republican congressman served, a review of his financial disclosures shows.
Price made dozens of health industry stock trades during a 3-year investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission that focused on the Ways and Means Committee, according to financial disclosure records he filed with the House of Representatives. The investigation was considered the first test of a law passed to ban members of Congress and their staffs from trading stock based on insider information.
Price was never a target of the federal investigation, which scrutinized a top Ways and Means staffer, and no charges were brought. But ethics experts say Price’s personal trading, even during the thick of federal pressure on his committee, shows he was unconcerned about financial investments that could create an appearance of impropriety.
“He should have known better,” Richard Painter, former White House chief ethics attorney under President George W. Bush and a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School...
15
You sir, regret being caught. Nothing more. That you, a very rich man, thought it was ethically acceptable to do this act, speaks volumes about your character.
had you not been discovered, you'd still be doing it.
Republican or Democrat, politicians misunderstand their fundamental role: You SERVE.
28
I'm sure we were all wondering if this qualifies for his Diamond Status for 2018.
6
The only thing he really regrets is getting caught.
Drain the swamp - right!
7
At this rate, it's gonna take a lot longer to 'drain the swamp' than we realized...
7
He'll pay - now that he got caught stealing from tax payers.
6
"Dr." Price? I wonder how many patients would ever let him lay his tainted hand on them. Not this one. That self righteous expression, absent of remorse. Remind you of anyone like Bernie Madoff maybe?
11
he White House approved the use of military aircraft for multi-The national trips by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to Africa and Europe this spring, and to Asia in the summer, at a cost of more than $500,000 to taxpayers.
The overseas trips bring the total cost to taxpayers of Price’s travels to more than $1 million since May.
10
What about Trump's family using private jets paid for by the taxpayer and the other cabinet members, like Mnuchen? This is the tip of the iceberg. They are fleecing us.
22
Drain the swamp of the real culprit: Trump for those expensive weekends he is so fond of. Price should pay the entire bill not some 8%. Lock him up.
10
Special Agents, Investigators and DOJ personnel assigned a vehicle get a Congressionally mandated 30 days on the beach for mis-use of a Government vehicle. This might include stopping at an ATM, getting groceries or picking up Mrs. G-Employee up on the way home from your 72 hr surveillance across 3 states. Fifty-eight grand is 3 grand more than an average US household in 2015. Must be nice.
5
It's fair to predict that Tom Price will soon be out of a job -- and he should be.
6
$51,887?? Unacceptable. Pay the full amount. Now. And apologize to the American People, on live TV, in prime time. Then resign.
10
His trips, about 25, cost us, taxpayers, more than 1 million dollars.
He wants to pay $53,000...
Pay or this is a great moment to "drain the swamp"...
9
Wait.
Donald Trump, whose entourage to his golf courses every weekend costs the taxpayers millions, is posing as a fiscal watchdog?
Oh, I forgot. As Trump has reminded us on more than one occasion, laws and regulations about conflicts of interest do not apply to him.
15
It is bad enough to spend $400K chartered flights. To make amends by refunding only for his own seat, not for the whole flights, just makes things worse. If he pays for only his seat, does he expect his staff to pay for theirs? Not only does Price not understand the wrongful ethics of what he did, but his clumsy way of making amends shows he does not understand how a person must take full responsibility for making errors of judgment.
14
Dr Price only wants to pay back $52,000. Who will pay back the remaining $348.000?
9
Well, John.... we were planning to tell you later, but since you brought it up....
3
Chartered flights within the US: $400,000.
Military flights overseas: $500,000.
Trump cabinet: (soon to be) Priceless.
22
bravo!
How does someone obtain $400,000 in travel benefits and only pay $50,000 for them? Ask Tom Price.
7
As a career public servant, I always worked knowing that the taxpayers were responsible for my salary and the work that I did. I always tried to respect the partnership between the taxpayer and my work. Thus, it would have never occurred to me to take advantage of that partnership as Secretary Price did by using expensive travel venues. His actions are not worthy of his title. He is supposed to be a role model for other public servants. Sadly, this is not the case.
14
Too little. Too late. We all know where this is headed.
22
He should pay not just the cost of the seat but the cost of the special flight chartered for his use. Paying the commercial fare for a seat doesn't by any means cover the cost for chartering special flights. The same goes for other cabinet members who are misusing their positions. Most corrupt government ever.
37
He travels with an entourage including Secret Service. He is not responsible for paying for those travelling with him unless they are family members. That he is paying one eighth suggests that there were seven people travelling with him.
Malia went on a six month South American tour during her year off between high school and college, accompanied by four Secret Service agents. Should she have paid for their travel? Joe Biden charged rent to the Secret Service when they stayed in his cottage while guarding him and his family. That was pretty chintzy.
1
And Trump charged the Secret Service for golf cart rides and rent of an entire floor in Trump tower at inflated prices? And for Secret Service protection for the adult children of three different wives, who are traveling the world on personal business at the expense of the taxpayer. Are you trying to use Obama and Biden to justify the fact that Trump has bankrupted the SS only a third of the way into the first year of his first term? Its not equivalent. At All.
"Mr. Trump fumed to senior aides about the negative headlines over Mr. Price’s travel and the damage it was personally causing the president"
Typical Trump. He's only mad because his image is hurt. The only reason why Trump would ever fire Price won't because of his misuse of chartered and military flights, but because of his inability to push Trump's non-existent plan to replace Obamacare and a chance to tweet out how great of a President he is for being a champion for the ordinary people.
20
When the president profits from foreign dignitaries staying in "his" DC hotel and his Mar-a-Lago commercial resort, what do you expect his cabinet to do? Behave ethically? Trump needs to go.
37
Isn't the issue that he took advantage of his position, squandered taxpayer money and that he disregarded documented policy? If I worked for a corporation and I did what the Secretary did, I bet I would be fired
23
He has only agreed to pay back about 1/8 of what he spent.
20
Quite a run Dr. Price.
We hope you enjoyed your chartered flights during your short term as Secretary.
Good try on repeal and replace.
Best of luck on your insider trading case!
15
Perhaps members of the Trump administration could kneel in protest against this grave injustice shown to one of their own.
8
"I regret the concerns this has raised regrading the use of taxpayer dollars," Mr. Price said . . .
Who is "this"? What exactly did "this" do? Why are you blaming "this"? I'm confused. Or perhaps the word you're looking for, Mr. Price, is "I". Try taking some responsibility for your breach of the public's trust.
20
Can we assume that the good doctor eschewed the champagne that was undoubtedly offered to him and his staff on these private charters, so as to avoid the offense of drinking on the job?
9
Dr. Price should release an accounting of his private jet use and the private jet use he induced, ie the cost of travel of others traveling with him. He should demonstrate arithmetically how he will reimburse all of that money to the United States, post a receipt for the monies on line, and agree to release his tax returns for the relevant period so that we can see that he did not claim a deduction of that reimbursement on his Schedule C. After all, were he to file for that deduction, doing so would not exactly be consistent with “The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes,” now would it?
Dr. Price, I am a physician about your age, and I am ashamed of you.
27
President Trump, time to clean house. Price should be gone, if he's not already gone. The White House Deputy Chief of Staff who approved Tom Price's European travel should also be gone.
Pruitt should also be gone since he not only spent $ 58,000 of taxpayer money on noncommercial flights, but he is also building a "secure" office at a cost of $25,000 so he can maintain security while he plans the destruction of our environment in secret.
23
Pruitt should take the high tech approach and just shut the door. Who is he talking to anyway?
1
If he acknowledges that it is wrong now, what was he thinking then?
4
Price traded stocks in health care companies he was overseeing while in Congress. He did not return the profits from this insider trading and now the taxpayer is stuck with the costs of an entire jet less the one seat. The best thing that can be said about Price is that he lives up to his name by cashing in on government jobs. It's time for Price to kicked out of the swamp of Washington. Unfortunately, Price's leaving will still require a lot of effort to clean up the GOP superfund site that is the Trump administration. Lincoln weeps.
15
As of this afternoon, the total cost of these flights is being pegged at a staggering $1 million! (The number has gone up continually since this was first revealed.)
And Secretary Price has agreed to pay back about $50,000?!
Sorry, not good enough.
22
I’m not worried in the slightest about Price losing his slot at HHS. Trump has an endless stream of suitable replacements for him among his far-right supporters. Roy Moore, if he doesn’t get into the Senate, will do the job proud. As would Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Both men are highly regarded as mental health experts for their personal encounters with psychological abnormalities.
As luck would have it, O.J. is about to be released from prison after serving a nine year term for armed robbery. I see a really big future ahead for him in the Trump administration, partying and golfing down at Mar-a-Lago with the Prez, plus a big job in the Justice Department handling women’s rights issues and dealing with football players who won’t stand up for the national anthem.
Roy Moore, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, O.J. and Trump all joining hands to make America great. Could anything be finer? These men all share a vision of the country that makes them ideal partners for each other. And suffer from similar psychological problems that hopefully will make them easier to treat.
18
Mr. Price has one saving grace: Mr. Trump has few options of people who want his job.
WOW! What kind of reason is that to keep a poor performer who has created a firestorm of bad publicity. Firing Price is addition by subtraction. Next man up. What's wrong with the Assistant Secretary of HHS?
The Trump administration is not running like a well-oiled machine. Select controversial cabinet nominees......you pay the price.
10
I have a different idea for how Mr. Price could truly apologize. It wouldn't cost him $400,000 and the government might even make some money.
He should sell raffle tickets for $1 each, with the money going to HHS, and the winner getting the privilege of publicly paddling Price on the steps of the memorial to Honest Abe.
3
"“The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.”
So what does that exactly mean? The article states that some $400k was spent. With 26 flights that sounds like an entire small business jet for short haul. Reports say he is going to write a check for some $50k which sounds more like a single seat on a small business jet.
So what actually happened? Did he get a seat on something like NetJets just for himself for, possibly, questionable trips? Sounds like some more media distortion given the lack of details.
Government employees, including cabinet members, do need some measure of expediency to effectively execute their duties.
3
Mark -
Certainly in this technically advanced modern world, Mr. Price could have conducted some of these "duties" via a secure video link without having to leave D.C. That would meet the expediency requirement and be good for the environment which impacts everyone's health, but then again Mr. Price would have missed out on having lunch with his son and checking up on his properties.
Your statement, "Sounds like some more media distortion given the lack of details." is nothing but a subtle implication of the dreaded fake news often used when the article does not show a Republican in a favorable light, this weeks example being Mr. Price.
I think to most readers this article reads like Mr. Price got caught wasting tax payer dollars and Mr. Price then offered a let them eat cake response.
Also more details will be forthcoming:
"Mr. Price also said that he would cooperate with the department’s inspector general’s office on a review of his travel. The episode comes amid heightened scrutiny surrounding the pricey travel habits of several other cabinet members, including Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin."
Fake news? Really? Got some very bad, but very real, news for you. People misrepresenting facts has been going on for, literally, millenia. The fake news label just took hold because the "Anointed One" got trounced by someone like Trump.
No doubt that was very embarrassing for Ms Clinton and her team. But the coastal elites, self absorbed in their imaginary world, failed to read the what was really going on. As bad as Trump is, which everyone knew, they still considered him the lesser of all the evils presented to the electorate
A reminder to be thankful that our country has a free press, if not for that fact Price's abuse of public funds would have continued unabated.
Price should have been fired for gross dishonesty during the past months of healthcare debate. Time after time he appeared on TV programs and repeated the deliberately misleading premise of "access & choice" a mind-numbingly number of times. At least he was loyal to the Trump doctrine that if you repeat a lie enough times the 35% "base" will believe it to be true.
Price should have been fired for gross dishonesty during the past months of healthcare debate. Time after time he appeared on TV programs and repeated the deliberately misleading premise of "access & choice" a mind-numbingly number of times. At least he was loyal to the Trump doctrine that if you repeat a lie enough times the 35% "base" will believe it to be true.
9
He owes over $500,000. Hopefully out political system will enable us to have him pay that amount
5
He is not responsible for the cost of the flights for Secret Service agents who accompanied him on business travel or for staff members who accompanied him.
"I look forward to gaining, regaining the trust that the American people, some of the American people, may have lost in the activities that I took."
One thing you can say for Tom Price - he's can pack a sentence with conditional phrases tighter than sardines.
8
What he SHOULD pay is the difference between the $400K cost and what the US Govt would have paid for his commercial travel.
8
His chartered flights cost about $400,000. Price is paying back about $52,000. So where's the other $347,000 of taxpayer money he spent? Did he come up with the final figure owed from using Trump's new tax plan as a model?
10
I would have expected that the Federal Government would have clear guidelines about what is acceptable transportation rules for cabinet members. Large corporations have it figured out, why not the Federal Government? If there are clear guidelines and he chose to ignore them, that would be a fireable offense in said large corporation. If no guidelines, they need to be established now. It should not be that hard to do a cost benefit analysis. This would include the appropriate number of staff members to be on the trip. The HHS secretary should not require an entourage for a simple business trip.
167
Had he flown commercial, he would still have had a security detail.
You're not supposed to take a private plane if commercial travel is available. Period. It was.
Believe me, there have bee guidelines for ages.
1
If someone, KNOWINGLY, takes something that does NOT belong to that person, can it not be described as thievery???
So, if the thief admits and returns what was taken, does that mean that he/she will escape punishment???
Does it mean that the person has no more responsibility once he/she admits regret???
59
Step 1: Pay for the flights.
Step 2: Resign!
118
Step 3: Get sent to jail for lying under oath, insider trading, and misuse of government funds.
2
I want to see that check endorsed! I don't believed this will ever happen!
24
He owes for the entire amount. He chartered the entire plane. It's not like he just hopped on board one that was already going where he wanted to go for Pete's sake.
This man is a grifter, like almost everyone else in this administration.
372
Typical 1% morality: it's only wrong and I only have to apologize if I get caught! Hey Mr. Price and Mr. President: Those are MY tax dollars upon which you are living large. Firing is indicated.
53
Expense account fraud?
Or does that not apply to people who can pay back what they stole.
33
He should resign. How dare he?
31
CNBC is reporting that Price is only paying for the cost of his "seat" alone, which amounts to $51,887.31 of the approximately $400,000.00 that our government must pay for the chartered flights . . . this NYT articles implies that Price is paying the full $400,000.00.
42
He only regrets it because he got caught.
42
Shame! Ripping off taxpayers and cheating the rules. Feeble excuses of "official business" while attending private functions, visiting family, and stoppin' by his vacation property. One more for the swamp.
28
If one of us peons had reached in the cash drawer and had taken 100th of that sum, and then after some tumult offered to put it back we would have lost our job and be in chains.
47
“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.”
Will the taxpayers pay for the seats others (e.g. Price's staffers) occupied on those planes?
21
Of course.
1
Wouldn't it have saved time and money to just hire a limo to take him from Virginia to Philly? He probably used one to get to and from the airports anyway. ...it doesn't sound like a convenience thing; it sounds lie an ego thing.
26
Great question, what type of ground transportation do he and his staff use/
Admission of guilt, I'd say....throw the book at the sanctimonious, entitled elitist loser...lock him up if you can, if not, get him out of the Cabinet and out of Washington.
And what's happening with the ethics investigations into all his self-dealing/insider trading?
And what should democrats do: scream, demand all-consuming investigations, ruin him like republicans ruined Sec. Clinton...in which case I expect trump would fire him; if they don't trump is unlikely to fire him leaving trump to be smeared with this scandal at a later date.
13
How dare them say Drain the swamp...total hypocrites, one and all. The Republican Party once was the Party of rightist ideologues, now it is merely full of thieves. The ones who always rail about cutting the budget deficit and manage to invariably make it much larger. What a total farce, except the nation is paying the price. We cannot lead the world, nor can we condemn another country because every rotten thing we once stood against is part of this government. And still those who elected the misfits is popular among the electors. It took a young kid form Australia who is good at basketball to say what these idiotic voters need to hear...our country is completely without any clothes (as the naked emperor) in the eyes of the world now. And Trump does not legislate, he panders.
15
What does he mean "pay for my seat"? Why won't he pay the total cost of the flight which would not have gone had he not requested it? Sounds rather sneaky to me. Clever fellow!!
23
It is this endless pettiness and brazenness of Trump's cabinet that bothers me to the most (besides the 148 other short-comings of this administration). These are supposed to be our public servants, people who we put into office so they serve our republic. Price's reaction seems completely devoid of shame, no word that he will either not do it again, or pay out of pocket next time before getting caught. No word of explanation - perhaps the business was so mission-critical that a private jet was called for. If so, explain!
This pathetic collection of crooks would walk over corpses to enrich themselves and their families on tax-payer's money. I'm disgusted beyond measure.
Why does it have to be that way? How can change it for the better?
19
Note he said "my seat"... per seat is $400k divided by the number of seats on the plane. A govt G4 probably has 12 or more seats. Price may write a check but it'll be under $40k.
12
I read that he will pay $51,000 for his seat on the plane. However, he chartered the entire plane, not one seat. He owes us $400,000, but I suspect we will have a long wait---like forever-- for the check to arrive. TP was flying around the country on the taxpayer's dime while he was trying hard to deprive millions of Americans of their health care. What a sleaze. He should resign in shame.
4
I see. Tom Price "regrets the concerns this has raised." He doesn't regret doing it.
"A weasel word, or anonymous authority, is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that a specific or meaningful statement has been made, when instead only a vague or ambiguous claim has actually been communicated. This can enable the speaker to later deny the specific meaning if the statement is challenged. Where this is the intention, use of weasel words is a form of tergiversation. (Wikipaedia)
20
"... for my seat ..." means he will be paying a small fraction of the cost of these flights. This is not good enough. Pay it all back from the fortune you made from insider trading in medical stocks while a congressman. Then resign.
28
Does this mean Trump will finally release his taxes to show that he has not been cheating on his taxes or at least taking big advantages that rich get to take.
11
Remember he did say how smart he was for not paying taxes. Taking advantage of every loophole and pushing the envelope to breaking point or maybe even past but that is way too expensive to prove. And many people lauded him for it and defended him.
No. This does not mean that.
"I regret the concerns this has raised regarding the use of taxpayer dollars." Nothing about regretting the fact that he so willingly tried to use taxpayer dollars this way. He's just sorry he got caught.
How Republican of him.
23
" Thursday that he would reimburse the government for the cost of the travel and stop taking private charter flights."
No, no, no. Price said he would reimburse the govt for the cost of commercial airline seats, not the costs he actually incurred.
Most estimates put the costs of his travel at over $400K. He is going to reimburse about $50K.
Please get the reporting on this right.
7
With Team Trump, it's all about the optics. Not about the ethics.
11
Why is everyone critical of Dr Price. He works hard. Deserved to travel in the style to which he is accustomed.
He can use the money he got from insider trading.
3
Note that you're in the minority of Americans and ask yourself why that might be.
My local TV news station has a reporter named Hank who follows around various officials/politicians on the job and exposes their corrupt behaviors. I love Hank.
There should be a very large team of these types of investigative reporters tailing our government officials in DC and where ever, constantly exposing these types of illegal activities. This is the tip of the berg here. They get away most of the time because they know they can. Hopefully someone will make sure his check goes through. He may 'mistakenly' write it on a check from a closed account. We don't know. Call Hank!
11
Over 400,000 in taxpayer costs. He has said he will reimburse only 51,000. Lock him up.
10
In private industry you would be fired and potentially prosecuted. The swamp continues to fill up with elitist staff that feels they are entitled to use taxpayers money for personal use. He needs to reimburse on what a private charter would cost not business class.
DTS! Drain The Swamp Trump
7
Now it’s coming to light Price used planes to travel to Europe, China and other parts of world to the tune of $500,000. Add that to bill. Go to Political and check the report added to the current abuse. PRICE SHOULD BE FIRED DONALD TRUMP.
8
This is no less than the unauthorized use of private property to carry out government business, and it is the unallowable expenditure of government funds on what essentially is private gain. Both are violations of the law. He should be forced to refund All of the money, not just his individual use of government funds to benefit himself. Then he should be summarily fired and bum rushed out the door. His actions have had material negative impacts on the federal government's ability to carry out its business.
9
Government employee here!
As our leaders traipse around the nation in private jets (and cut our budgets while protecting their own salaries), we are overworked, have high staff turnover, are paid anywhere between 20-70% below market (at my department, can't speak for all of several million government employees in the US), get few opportunities for promotion or pay raise, and rarely receive authorization to travel. We are at the mercy of the taxpayer and face hiring freezes, pay freezes, and furloughs at congress' pleasure or inaction. We are constantly railed upon, blamed, and scapegoated for legislative incompetence. It is not a glamorous job, nor should it be. Sec. Price, join us on our level, or at least meet us halfway, won't you?
9
Don't feel too bad for Mr. Price; Trump's tax plan will make him whole many times over.
5
Who knows he mat even be able to write the repayment off with Trump's plan.
1
If Price wants to pay back $51K, his estimate of the cost of the seat he sat in, for his $400K bill for private jet travel, that's ok with me. Next flight, buckle him in his seat and drop it from the plane at, say, $30,000 feet. Worth every penny.
8
That is not true he is only paying 15% of what is owed. He isn't paying the full amount. HE NEEDS TO GO!
6
The rich live in their own world. unfortunately, they just keep on making things worse for the shrunken middle class and the growing impoverished class. With his job and insurance and perks, he couldn't take commercial flights? Gimme a break. It's scary that these clueless people will. Ectruing to make decisions that affect ordinary people. Price has great health care coverage; he's. yay trying to get rid of ours. And so it goes.
5
He regrets the concerns his use of the chartered flights has raised but not having done it. He lacks a moral compass.
9
Behold the new American aristocracy.
The founders of our country decried aristocracy, but generally thought that if one had to emerge, it was better to have a landed rather than a moneyed aristocracy. Alas, the latter has emerged. They know nothing of service, only of self-dealing.
Madison et al. are spinning in their graves.
8
A landed aristocracy would be just as bad.
1
What does he mean by offering to reimburse the US Treasure for his travel and that taxpayers won't pay a dime etc.? According to reports, the total cost of the charter jets is $400,000.
Is Price reimbursing the taxpayers that entire amount or the $50K some-odd? Is he playing fast and loose with meaning and truth as so often is the case with this Administration?
How much is Price paying, and if not the entire $400K, then how much, and who pays the remaining amount?
7
First, he owes $350,000 more than he's offering to pay. Second, this isn't as much about the money as about his contempt for the American people, and that hasn't changed one whit.
12
I'll bet he is far from being the only person who thinks this kind of behavior is a given, a perk for government officials. I read somewhere that a low-ball, conservative estimate for wasted taxes in kickbacks, favors. padding expense accounts, charging to the Government tab is thought to be at the very least 25% of taxes paid and that's just Federal taxes – running the gamut from lunches, weekend retreats, the odd purchase here and there, to a vacation, house renovation and more.
1
If work was getting done- If the government was functioning as it should, I wouldn't care if a Cabinet Secretary flew on a charter plane everyday. People who hold Cabinet posts should have a higher level of service available to them. It's hard enough to work a simple retail job dealing with the general public- imagine what it's like serving a nation? They deserve a break.
Had Price peppered his travel with a few public transportation rides- or even a few coach seats- I don't think this would have been a big deal- but to rake up $400,000- somebody has some 'splainin' to do. And I thought the GOP is supposed to be the penny-pinchers? How many times did they attack Obama for his vacations and golf outings? Trump has out spent Obama's 8 years in 8 months! That's pretty amazing!
11
The square state rubes voted this elitist cabal in because they wanted to get rid of -- wait for it -- the elitist cabal. They ended up with the hardest-core group of rapacious capitalist east-coast elitists anyone could ever imagine. But because Trump, they're OK with it. Idiots, one and all.
The best thing about this is that when we take back America for real Americans in 2020, we'll be able to shut down anything they want because they had a chance and blew it one hundred percent.
30
Did I read this right? Price is going to write a persona check for $400,009 to pay for his 26 some odd flights at taxpayer expense for his private use of government planes? Just corruption, er, business as usual.
15
You didn't read that he was going to pay $400,009. He clarified it by saying he's offering to pay for this seat, which is 1/8 of that amount. So the taxpayer he respects is still on the hook because of all those other folks.
2
I don’t think you read it right. You have to very carefully parse the words of these people (not Trump, he just out and out lies). Notice that he said he would pay for the cost of his seat - not the cost of the aircraft. I expect that the amount he pays will be considerable less than $400,000.
2
NO! What he is paying for is HIS seat on those flights - not the seats of his staff etc. Which means he is repaying ~$50k
4
"...known to dislike appearances of financial waste..." Indeed with this crowd, the appearance is the only issue. Not the financial waste itself. It's only a problem because it came to light. Self-awareness is in extremely short supply...
40
As someone else mentioned, it seems important to establish if Mr. Price flew any of his staff with him.
Not to mention that this article states $400,000 was the full amount and Mr. Price is agreeing to write a check for $52,000. Who will reimburse the government for the balance?
84
A, who you ask? The chumps who keep these abominations in power, the voters. It's already eight months and they're still yawning as these crooks keep stealing from the public cookie jar.
Price will somehow get reimbursed for the 52,000 via the abundant loopholes the rapacious thieves' high-priced lawyers find and peace will return to the land where it's a crime to be poor and shameful not to be able to afford high-priced lawyers.
However, he’s only paying an eighth of the cost of the flights, $51,887.31 - or that is to say the difference between the cost and a regular commicial fare. This, it seems, is because he travels with an entourage of seven (!) who were on the flights - presumably because he required their presence. Surely he should be covering the entire additional cost to the taxpayer, i.e., $415,098.48 - and yes, it’d sting, sine his net worth is only in the ten million range, but tough.
45
I suspect he is just paying the commercial fare. Where are the opposition Democrats? How about a congressional investigation? They should be all over this for the entire Trump cabinet.
2
"Mr. Trump, who is known to dislike appearances of financial waste"
Hum! Not his own obviously.
And, if it hadn't made an appearance it would be fine?
31
Trump quickly set the example in this administration and wasted millions of dollars on his weekend jaunts to Mar-a-lago and the first lady maintaining a separate residence with a secret service, etc. It said to his employees, you have a golden ticket to fleece this country as you please.
40
Wouldn't it be far cheaper if he flew on a USAF VIP jet (not AF1, but their military versions of Gulfstreams)? Or if HHS simply bought its own jet?
And if the travel is not for official business, he reimburses the fuel costs?
I believe the President and top-level Secretaries/Nat'l Security officials have the right to a vacation and/or visit family. And because of security issues, I don't have a problem with them using Air Force jets.
Are you saying you don't mind footing the bill? I am shock at anyone who is OK with this. Government employees getting the VIP treatment at tax payer''s expense. Look at this whole adminstration. All billionaires and multi-millionaires who can easily pay there own way.
This is not just the cost of the plane, polits, , airport fees, airport personel, this also includes the HHS security detail and the big black SUV, which, they all seem to need..... M.A.G.A. on America''s back...thank you Mr. Trump.
1
We should all be grateful for an independent, free press that has done such an admiral job of uncovering the continual scandals occurring in the Trump White House. If not for the free press, all the misdeeds of folks like Tom Price would continue indefinitely. They are repentant only when caught red-handed. I hope that we hear follow up evidence of taxpayer money actually being returned by Price.
40
Would love to see the memos requesting all of this, including his justifications, as well the memos authorizing it from an HHS employee approving it, like the agency travel flunky had a choice, but they do know the rules, and always made it clear to me when I was a Fed, what I could and couldn't do.
1
Get caught, pay it back. Don’t get caught, don’t pay it back.
The only thing missing from that equation is ethics.
37
Great. He regrets the "concerns" it raised, Trump doesn't like the timing and the way it looks. Neither of them seem to get that it was wrong, only that it was uncovered and looked bad. It's all about them, they just don't get that it's about us. And how about Air Force One's little jaunts to Mar-a-Lago and to NJ for weekend golfing and the costs of that? Such entitlement. Such a lack of conscience or awareness of their positions and what they represent.
Moral blindness. So comforting. Mueller, please hurry.
26
Democrats are no better and I'm a Democrat.
This story doesn't tell the whole story. Price has offered to pay back the taxpayers for HIS seat on the charter flights (the ones we know about, anyway), but not for the seats of any of his staff or whoever else may have accompanied him. This comes out to just over $50,000 of the $400,000 tallied so far.
Perhaps he can sell off some of his ethics-violating medical stock holdings to cover the difference.
36
Price happens to be very wealthy and has accumulated some of that wealth with shady stock transactions. It should come as no surprise that he would try to game the system and travel in luxurious travel. It must be nice to be able to have the money to make your transgressions go away. Trump would fire him if he were serious about draining the swamp, though we know he isn't.
10
Having practiced law for 3 decades, I know 0 rich people who have not gamed the system, which is how they get rich. Dance back and forth across the line. Except Warren Buffet.
We are a nation of scammers. The rich are simply the masters of the game, God bless their weasel-hearts...
Notice he carefully said he'd pay for "his seat", mean the rest of us will be forced to pay for all the staff accompanying him.
10
Tom Price 'Regrets' being caught. Nothing more, nothing less.
29
Whoa, let's stop for just a second. He did not say he was reimbursing the entire $400K - only *his seat* - which is just over $51,000. It has been confirmed that he is paying the lower amount, not the entire tab.
13
Dr Price has a history of crossing ethical lines. During his confirmation hearings it was shown that he was buying stocks of companies that he was proposing to legislate on. Now it has been shown that he is charging the tax payer for personal air travel.
In addition, he is using his considerable political power to disable the workings of the insurance markets in regard to Obamacare.
His offer to return the money he took so blithely from the American people doesn't wash. Could you imagine a high public servant in the Roosevelt, Kennedy, Clinton, or Obama Administrations managing his office with such detriment to the public benefit?
10
Imagine? Yes of course. For you to intimate the Democrats are more ethical than the Republicans is bizarre. Our 2 parties personify self serving.
Not true. You are too cynical. The Roosevelt Administration in particular drew the most idealistic and ethical persons to public service. So did other Democratic Administrations, perhaps to a lesser extent. Although there have been good people in Republican Administrations--James Baker, Elliot Richardson, Neil McElroy, President Eisenhower-- many Republican office-holders did and do not know right from wrong. There attitude is often: I'm out for myself and the heck with everyone else.
He said that taxpayers would not spend a dime for his seat on the charter plane. Is he paying the cost of the plane charter or what the cost would be for a business class seat on a commercial plane?
3
"Now that I've been caught, I promise to reimburse the government."
What great logic!
Under the "Tom Price" rule, Al Capone could have avoided prison simply by promising to pay his back taxes.
11
Probably resented his fellow Cabinet members ability to fly private planes - they should all follow DeVos' example, if they can afford it, and want to, let them pay. We as taxpayers should not be funding lavish lifestyles for public servants. In Price's case who know how much of his wealth came from insider trading - but that is a different ethical issue.
7
He should pay the full cost,then resign. First he insults us by doing it in the first place.Then again by saying he will pay for "his"seat.
20
Price agreeing to pay the charter flight bills only after he was caught red-handed stealing from the federal purse does nothing to absolve him from abusing the public trust. He must resign or be fired.
7
Tom Price got caught abusing his office and wastefully spending taxpayer dollars to the tune of $400,000 on flights he chartered. Then he magnified the situation tenfold by reimbursing the government just $50,000 for "his seat" on those flights. This man has a net worth of $14 million. You would think that he would be smart enough to pay the total amount owed, show some remorse for his actions, make an honest attempt to put this episode behind him. He should be fired by the President immediately.
21
But our president games the system flying each weekend to his private resorts. Why should he care?
I am so over America.
1
Um, you don't get off that easy. You knew what the travel rules are when you signed up, and you don't get to write a check (that is more than what most peoples' houses are worth) to get out of the hot water.
Go ahead and write the check, because when you are found guilty of corruption, you'll have to reimburse the government anyway, but the investigation must continue. If it does not, we are yet another step closer to becoming the world's largest banana republic.
13
It seems odd that in a business society such as ours that regularly fires people for “borrowing” some money from the till, and imprisons those taking money from the company without telling someone for embezzlement, regardless of whether they “decide” to pay it back, that Tom Price still has a job, let alone is not headed for prison.
12
Price is a crook. He works for a crook. They run a scheme to defraud and bilk taxpayers for personal profit When caught they lie, pay their legal bills from their ill gotten loot, and then repeat the cycle.
20
Good that "we" are being reimbursed but it won't buy back this man's integrity.
2
It's hard to even gather a response/comment in the face of this Mount Everest sized pile of hypocrisy, 1% entitlement, disdain for taxpayers, and insult to any person who has ever had to reimburse a cost at face value. This administration is appalling. Anyone (here's looking at you Trump supporters and your Republican sycophants) who is not sickened by the corruption endemic to this president and his sidekicks are serious sociopaths. Imagine how this would have gone down under any Democrat administration (let alone Obama)? Republicans would have been calling for a head on a stick - instead we get a paltry 'personal check' (that I'm sure he'll figure some way to avoid actually paying) reimbursing us for a fraction of the moneys wasted carting this fool around the country. Republicans should be deeply ashamed of themselves; but of course that would require introspection and honesty - two qualities in very short supply among right-leaning politicians.
7
Tom Price is a shame to the medical profession, a vile and arrogant opportunist, ready and willing to disenfranchise millions of poor, sick and elderly from decent healthcare insurance. And now his vulgar abuses of power at our expense; and his cheating, once caught, he thinks all will be pardoned if he picks up the tab. This arrogant bully must go, he is a disgrace to the office. not that he didn't have plenty of support from crooked Trump, an awful example to emulate.
6
He should pay the tax payers back. And then he should resign. Anyone withsuch poor judgement should not be in a position of importance. Let's not forget that he also bought stock in several companies and then introduced a bill to benefit those companies. It's time to leave the swamp Dr. Price.
4
Tom Price said,
“The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.”
Well they already did. If Donald Trump hadn't held his feet to the fire, HHS Secretary Price would not be paying back this money..And what about his staffers who also traveled with him on these flights?
5
Two questions occur. Will Secretary Price deduct the commercial airfare costs from his payment? Will he be able to get a tax deduction for non reimbursed business expense. Taxpayers may still be on the hook. So what does, "not pay a dime mean?"
2
Price says he will pay $52,000 to reimburse taxpayers for his seat on government airplanes but what about the cost of transporting his staff?
5
Taxpayers will pay the $400,000 to charter the planes, but Price will graciously reimburse them $52,000 for "his own seat" on the planes.
I see that economics is not his strong point. Self-interest? That's a different story.
4
So many defendants in criminal courts who have defrauded others say they regret their conduct.
Yet the courts convict them, and sentence them to prison. If a defendant is in a position of trust, the federal sentencing guidelines require an increase in the level of punishment.
Price should have known better. Regret and restitution is no excuse for his sins. Price merely regrets getting caught.
Trump wants the NFL to fire employees, so . . . .?
Mr. Trump you have the authority, and ability to address "bad conduct" that the public abhors. You claim you want to drain the swamp. So, Mr. Trump, tell him, "You're fired."
5
I wish I could afford to just "write a check" for $400K for travel on luxury private jets. That Dr. Price is able to do so without batting an eye at the dollar figure (but only after being publicly exposed), yet availed himself of such travel at taxpayer expense in the first place is sad commentary on his commitment to America and its citizens, and of Trump's ability to "vet" his cabinet the way he demands refugees seeking asylum here be scrutinized before being allowed in.
As I was composing this, the CBS evening news announce the size of the check was not the full amount of the unwarranted joy riding, but $52,000, 1/8th of the total he actually should cover. The people involved in the exposure of this disgusting display of privilege deserve to be rewarded for their work.
3
Draining the swamp, baby. Hiring only the best.
1
Doctor Price,
it's the Hippocratic oath not the hypocritic oath!
5
It must be nice to dine at a table where there is unlimited food or work at a place that has an unlimited amount of money for one to spend. Unfortunately for Tom Price, the United States government is not that place. I do not understand why he or any other cabinet official should feel entitled to special privileges when it comes to travel, secure communications (unless clearly indicated by the nature of the job), political favors, etc. Furthermore, he's a rich man who doesn't need the job.
The Trump administration, like so many other corrupt administrations in government (local, state, and federal) is using public money to upgrade their lives while telling us that we don't deserve to have decent lives, to expect a functioning government, to expect them to be honest. If they want us to respect and trust them they ought to behave better. The same goes if they don't want to answer embarrassing questions.
44
Great. Now how about Mnuchin, Pruitt and the entire Trump family?
30
“I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.”.....Not sure if Price remembers that part of the oath. Such a sorry person. Of course, Trump,didn’t fire him.
20
How how many of Mr. Trump's cabinet appointees can NOT write checks for $400,000?
65
He is ONLY paying about $52,000 - out of a reported $400,000 total, Not sure how that squares with his spokesman's comment that "taxpayer's won't pay a dime for his seats on charter planes" - was the other $300K+ for his luggage???
2
He's only paying for "his" seat, even though it was a chartered flight - which means he's in control of all seats and where the plane goes and when. As far as I know, he did not use NetJets or other fractional private charter planes. He is not paying the 400K, he's paying around 56K for "his" seat. What ethics this administration has.....
274
Price says he will pay for “my seat.” Did he have an entourage that the taxpayers will treat?
64
He sure did and we sure will unless he ponies up the other $348K. You think that's gonna happen?
1
Tom Price doesn't regret anything. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. A check would be nice (and let's have proof once this happens) but an accompanying resignation letter would be even nicer.
145
Reimburse for the whole charter, not just "his seat", that's not how it works. Shared responsibility where everyone pays for just their seat is called "commercial".
1
Let me be the first to state the obvious and opine that our Republican president can take a page from his own book, i.e., he can pay back all the money he's stolen from the taxpayers through his frivolous, greedy spending on trips to Mar-a-Lago, etc. Better yet, he can threaten to fire himself, then make good on the threat. Come to think of it, a combination repayment/self-firing would be the best possible move.
118
Only when the American people fire him and his enables, the GOP, in 2018 and 2020.
I'd much rather having him flying around the world on private jets paid for my taxes than having him in Washington doing his job.
13
This is typical of a republican really. They think of themselves as above the rest of us. Like royalty might think. It should not be unexpected for the party of greed that they would live out these rich person fantasies. There isn't a single one of them that wouldn't do the same. It all about the money, and it has to be, because they lack normal human emotions. Those things that allow the rest of us to enjoy life even as we are not the richest people. We want more of life, and they just want more money. Sad.
19
I'd be happy to pay for one-way ticket.
13
Mr. Price said he would reimburse the cost of his seats. That may be much less than the full cost to charter planes. Someone needs to be vigilant about his check-writing. In that same vein, where is Mr. Trump's donation for hurricane relief? Crickets.
And it is rich (pun intended) that Mr. Trump is whining about Price's wastrel ways. Who is regularly boarding Air Force 1 for golfing weekends at Trump properties that are paid for his patronage (or at least the expenses of his Secret Service posse) with taxpayer dollars?
182
Caught in the act? No problem. Just buy your way out and hope they don't catch you next time.
Ethics? What about them?
19
this is big dollars for the 99% but no nothing next to trump's personal expenses that we pay and much of that money goes into trump's pocket. lock him up!
14
"OK, I'll give the candy bars back--sorry I stole them. Can I go now?"
That, essentially, is what Price is saying, and it should work as well with him as it does a common shoplifter. Trump needs to set an example and a tone that's different from the examples and tones he has set so far and fire this clown.
17
“The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.”
I think Price may still be misleading us. For example, “his seat” may have been a fraction of the price of the private charter flight. I trust the NYT, WaPo or Politico will be asking to see a copy of the checks.
37
Part 1:
Translate: "Oh dear, I got caught. I'll replace all the cookies I took from the jar."
Part 2:
"In the past 24 hours, the president has told at least one person close to him that he would still reserve the right to fire Mr. Price even after the payback if new revelations came to light that reflected badly on Mr. Trump." Surprise! There's only a problem if it makes Mr. Trump look bad.
27
So when Trump was vetting Price, he was unaware of how unethical the man could be. Didn't Price make several hundred thousand in an unscrupulous stock deal? I guess Price's biggest sin is he got caught.
29
Just hoping for clarification: NPR is saying Price will pay $52,000 of his $400,000 tab. This article quotes him as saying, "The taxpayers won't pay a dime for my sear on those planes." Which is it?
https://twitter.com/nprpolitics/status/913517909116424192
19
And he got that money through manipulative insider stock deals. No, no no, I'm wrong. He saved. He's got a little tin box that a little tin key unlocks.
12
Well, I guess, that takes care of that. Nothing more will happen to him, or to Pruitt or Mnuchin. There's a precedent- Sessions. They're loyalists, something that is vastly more important than integrity, ethics and accountability. Swamp creatures all!
12
Mr Price regrets "“the concerns this has raised regarding the use of taxpayer dollars,” but doesn't say whether he regrets the lack of judgment and sense of entitlement that led him to charter the planes in the first place.
17
He regrets "the concerns this has raised." That's a non-apology apology.
21
Despicable abuse of public funds/trust/power by the Trump administration. Lame, insincere response. Rinse and repeat.
13
The "real American people" includes his son, but nobody in Maryland, Delaware, or Virginia within reach of car or train.
5
Price says he’ll pay for “my seat”. Did he have an entourage that the taxpayers will treat?
9
The swamp indeed. And the other cabinet members? Impeachment can't come soon enough.
9
Price writes: “Today, I will write a personal check to the U.S. Treasury for the expenses of my travel on private charter planes." What about the costs of his staff? This reads that he will reimburse the Treasury only for his seat on those planes.
12
Paying for his "seat" is not the same as reimbursing the cost of the flights. It's the difference between $25-$50K and the full $400K cost.
He should be paying the latter, because the charter flights wouldn't have even taken off if he hadn't chartered them in he first place! It makes no difference that there were other people on the plane, especially if they were just hitching a ride!
What a hypocrite! This is the same man who wants to cut Medicaid support for poor people!
84
According to NPR, Tom Price is going to pay $52,000 for the more than $400,000 in private jet flights he has taken since joining the Cabinet. Either that reporting is inaccurate, or Price's statement that “the taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes” is false. In any event, another so-called fiscal conservative, who wants to shrink the size of government had no problem greedily enjoying the unwarranted perks of office, apparently without question. It would seem that government spending is only wrong when it's spending on other people.
15
Can't believe theses people want the government to pay their way. I'm not wealthy but aways pay my way. Seems as if we have a bunch of "Freddie FreeLoaders" in Washington now.
10
If most people stole that much from their employer, they would be fired, and maybe prosecuted.
15
He should be paying us back with interest and ALSO resigning in shame. Not writing a check and going on with his day as if he did nothing wrong. Talk about deplorable.
11
"I regret the concerns this has raised...?" Is that supposed to be an apology for ripping off the taxpayers. He doesn't regret what he did, only the fact that it caused concern. In that case, I regret the concerns you might have on the day you're fired Tommy, but that's all I will regret.
9
Price is reported to have said:
"The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes."
The key word is "seat"--he is not saying he'll reimburse entire cost of plane.
From talkingpointsmemo.com:
"An HHS spokesperson later told TPM in an email that “Secretary Price will write a personal check to the US Treasury for $51,887.31. The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for his seats on charter planes.”"
Again with careful use of the word "seats"...and the dollar amount quoted for Price's so-called reimbursement is about 1/7 of the total bill to taxpayers of about $400,000, per Politico via TPM.
They must really think we're stupid that we will be placated by the "won't pay dime" lie so craftily concealed in their carefully worded statement. In fact, we'll be on the hook for 87% of the expense!
739
As an university professor, I spent two years working as a program manager for the Department of Energy on an agency-university agreement. (BTW, I recommend this stint to other professors to learn how sausage is really made in DC. It will help you and your colleagues when you return.)
When I visited the DOE laboratories or went to represent DOE at conferences, the airline that had won the annual contract was the only one I could fly on, unless it did not fly to my destination (that never happened). The connections were not optimal, but it minimized the cost to the government. I recommend this practice to the Cabinet officers.
3
Right.
Notice how easily the ACTUAL cost to tax payers - $400,000 - which Price is NOT paying, got lost in news of his fractional payment. Reimbursement it is not.
5
When I see a receipt I'll believe it.
3
This is factually incorrect. He is not reimbursing the cost of the charters, just the cost for "his seat," which presumably is the cost of the flight divided by the number of seats on the plane. This is utterly ridiculous, as: (1) the charters would not have been taken at all but for his direction and plans; and (2) you can't charter a plane by the seat. You have to charter the whole plane, and it doesn't change the price if you fill all the seats or just one.
225
There are fractional private planes like NetJets, but he did not use any of those companies. Pay the full bill.
5
If this is the case, and he does not pay the entire cost of the charter, he should be criminally charged, forced to reimburse American taxpayers and summarily fired. The same goes for Mnuchin and any other entitled oligarch that Trump, INCLUDING TRUMP, has appointed. How many millions has it cost us to fly the Dotard-in-Chief to play more golf than any other President in history (on his own courses) - and it continues.
3
Duh, DGR, what does anything have to do with anything when the public response is a collective yawn? We are a nation of chumps as long as the GOP and their golden boy, Trump and his fellow swamp creatures (cesspool creatures?) are allowed to get away with their shenanigans.
We gave our government away.
As a federal employee who has done government travel, the rules are abundantly clear and every effort is made to keep costs down. As a taxpayer, I understand the obvious need to be frugal with government funds. Not so Mr Price. The fox is in the hen house. Why does he make it sound like like he’s doing Americans a favor that we don’t have to pay a dime for his personal travel? Why doesn’t he simply apologize instead of acting so arrogant? He deserves to be let go. He does not accept that he’s in public service. He is not fit for the job.
149
Politico.com's Rachana Pradhan points out that "It's unclear how much Price will pay to the U.S. Treasury, but it is likely for just a fraction of the total costs of the flights. Price's statement referred to paying for “my seat" and did not address the cost of staff and security officials that accompanied him."
26
Those who fight against entitlements for the average American often seem the most lavishly self-entitled.
154
After doing such a brilliant job on health care reform that attempted to steal funds for those needing health insurance to those wealthy like Mr. Price, HHS Secretary Tom Price is offering to pay his back for his theft for traveling in chartered jets. Let's hope our Apprentice President utters the magic words, "You're fired!" Dr. Price was revealed as being corrupt while using his position in Congress to personally profit, we don't need to allow him to continue this behavior as a member of the cabinet. Didn't he realize that's reserved for the president himself.
12
"Mr. Trump, who is known to dislike appearances of financial waste..."
That is, unless the waste is for his innumerable trips to Mar-A-Lago. Or the cost to New York City for securing Trump Tower. Or any of Trump's other wasteful habits. But he chews out other people without acknowledging his own fleecing.
28
...or the cost of the Trump brand water bottles on the conference tables in the White House.
1
“Today, I will write a personal check to the U.S. Treasury for the expenses of my travel on private charter planes,” he said in the statement. “The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.”
Dodgy Dr. Price; taxpayers won't pay for "MY SEAT". The American taxpayers will pick up the tab for the cost of the flights minus the cost of a single seat.
38
My thoughts exactly:
"How about the fact that he's only sorry because he was caught at it?"
Either Price spent taxpayer dollars on private flights or he didn't. If he didn't, he has nothing to apologize for, much less to write any checks for. On the other hand, if he did, no apology or check-writing will undo it: He should be fired, or resign.
I'm always skeptical when some official claims his apparently-private activities were actually job-related. But Price isn't even claiming that. As best I can tell, he's admitting he used taxpayer dollars for personal expenses, and apparently feels it's sufficient for him simply to pay back what he was caught stealing.
I'm very much disappointed in this clown. Either he should deny wrongdoing (which he hasn't so far), or he should resign. Not today, perhaps -- tomorrow morning would be early enough.
11
“I regret the concerns this has raised regarding the use of taxpayer dollars,” Mr. Price said in a statement relayed through a spokeswoman."
So he doesn't regret that he did it, he regrets that concerns were raised and that he was called on it. And the only reason he's paying for the flights himself is because it turned into a damaging political story line for trump and reflected badly on trump. It's so comforting to know that our leaders are concerned about us, the citizens that they were elected or appointed to serve.
11
Politicians and public employees are under the impression that tax money is play money. That's one reason Trump and other populist are gaining support. The swamp is pulling the people down under. To the barricades!
6
“I regret the concerns this has raised regarding the use of taxpayer dollars..."
Translation: Mr. Price is sorry that he took heat, not for the act itself.
11
“The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.”
I think he should pay it from his brokerage account with some of the millions he made from insider trading on medical stocks while serving on a House Committee overseeing healthcare companies.
Otherwise, he's just paying it with a taxpayer funded government salary.
Just another day for this administration.
12
Sec. Price should present two documents to President Trump. A certified check, a personal check doesn't cut it, and his resignation. President Trump should accept nothing less.
9
Yet another example of the utter hypocrisy behind the statement 'draining the swamp'. Trump and his cabinet are there to amass as much power and wealth at the expense of the U.S. citizenry as possible. I'm just shocked that more people don't see it.
16
He is not reimbursing the taxpayers for the cost of travel. He is writing a check for $50,000, likely what his seat in business or first class might have added up to.
That leaves $350,000 of the actual cost unreimbursed; tax payer dollars squandered, misused, and embezzled?
140
He should pay the whole amount and try to collect / recover as much as possible from other passengers on the luxury charter . One of the new residents of the "Swamp" . He should be fired.
4
$350,000 = 3.5MM dimes. See? Not 'a' dime!
3
So, if a manager stole $400,000 from his employer, and (after getting caught) said he regretted it and would repay it, would he keep his job and not be prosecuted?
At the very least, Trump should fire this bad Apprentice
10
His seat? He chartered the flight! Pay up price. How can a secretary of health make judgement for millions of Americans when he can't figure out the cost of his absurdity? This IS trumps swamping taxpayers.
11
Price and Trump reacted identically.
Neither of them were bothered by the loss to the taxpayers, only the impact publicity about it would have on their respective reputations.
15
Notice how he said that he would "pay for his seat" on these flights, not the price of the chartered plane. I'm guessing there's a big difference there. Just sayin'.
11
Secretary Price should clarify that he will be reimbursing the government for the entire cost it paid for the charters, not simply the cost of "my seat." The plane only flew because the secretary chartered it, and if others accompanied him on the flights, the entire cost of the charter should be reimbursed. It's not clear that Secretary Price has agreed to do this, but only that he's agreed to pay for "my seat" and "my travel" on the flights he chartered.
15
I believe there were questions years back, when Price was a Congressman, of Price trading on securities he was working on legislatively. Wonder what happened there. I would not bet the bank or real punishment.
11
He still needs to be fired on the grounds of moral and ethical turpitude. How can taxpayers and voters trust a man of this caliber to do the right thing in the future. The President needs to give him the "Your Fired" gesture.
7
As to be expected, Mr. Price doesn't get it - mostly due to willful ignorance coupled with an extra helping of arrogance I suspect.
It is a much bigger deal that Mr. Price thought it was OK to do this, than the loss of money from the treasury. At best, it calls into question his motives and priorities. More realistically, it brings a reoccurring trend of greed, poor judgement, and failure to put his duties and obligations to the public over his personal convenience and ego back into the spotlight.
8