UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, February 7. 1996
11A
Taxpayers pick up first lady's tab
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Taxpayers will pick up the lion's share of Hillary Rodham Clinton's air fare for a tour to promote her best-selling book about children, according to government and airline estimates.
Mrs. Clinton is flying on a 12-seat Air Force jet that costs $2,890 per flying hour because the Secret Service wanted the first lady to use a government plane for security reasons.
The book, It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us, is No.1 on The New York Times best-seller list. Most of the proceeds from it will go to children's hospitals and other charities.
Mrs. Clinton's aides said the tax-payer expense was an unfortunate but necessary cost, but critics said the first lady should have found a cheaper way to promote her book, which is a private endeavor.
The total bill for the plane will come to about $69,360 by the time the tour ends later this month. Taxpayers will absorb about 80 percent of the cost.
Mrs. Clinton's publisher, New York-based Simon & Schuster, will
Knight-Ridder Tribune
reimburse the government the amount of a first-class air fare ticket for each leg of the trip for both Mrs. Clinton and the two aides accompanying her.
That reimbursement would total between $11,958 to $16,164, based on fares quoted by several airlines.
That would leave taxpayers to absorb between $53,196, or 77 percent and $87,402, or 82 percent, for
the flights. The Secret Service protection the first lady always is provided would be extra.
"The security comes at some expense to the taxpayer, and we regret that, but the Secret Service made a recommendation, and we listened to it," said Neel Lattimore, deputy press secretary for Mrs. Clinton.
grich, R-Ga., traveled to promote his new book last year, he agreed to pick up the cost of air travel out of his own pocket. Taxpayers paid to have plainclothes U.S. Capitol Police provide his usual security.
When House Speaker Newt Gin-
There is a precedent for presidents' wives using government planes for personal book tours. Barbara Bush used a military jet to promote her best-selling book about the Bush's dog, Millie.
David Keating, executive vice president of the National Taxpayers Union, a nonpartisan group that advocates lower taxes, said Mrs. Clinton could have chartered a jet or done live video presentations to save money.
But in an atmosphere of cost-cutting and budget-balancing, critics said Mrs. Clinton should have found a less expensive alternative than the $2,890-an-hour Air Force plane.
Using the Air Force jet is the most expensive way to tackle this, Keating said.
The exact cost of the trip won't be known until some weeks after the final leg of the tour is complete, Lattimore said.
The Etc. Shop 928 Mass.Downtown
SHOP TODAY 12:00-5:00 P.M.
CLINIQUE BONUS WEEK.
"Little Extras"
Here's why we love Clinique:
For being Allergy Tested and 100% fragrance free.
For the special attention and expert advice.
For custom-fit skin care and most wearable makeups
And for all the
Little Extras.
Your special bonus at no extra charge with any
Clinique purchase of $15.00 or more.
You get:
- Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent
- Turnaround Cream For Dry Skin
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Pair of Shades Eye Shadow Duo
- Almost Black Eye-Shading Pencil
Honeyed Amber Long Last Lipstick
Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother
Special extra: Pop-out hair brush
- All this, all week, at our Clinique counter.
- One bonus per customer, please.
9th & Massachusetts
PHONE ORDERS 843-6360