Taxpayers Foot Bill For Three Private Jets Approved By Congress

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Last fall, Congress lambasted auto company execs for flying to Washington aboard private jets only to walk off the tarmac and beg lawmakers for bailout money.

Now, it's Congress gearing up to fly privately aboard three new jets, already approved and being paid for by American taxpayers.

Each GulfStream jet costs $65 million. Normally, big ticket items like these require earmarks, but since one of these jets was already on order, no additional earmarks were added for expanding the existing program.

When legislation is expanded, it doesn't disclose which member of Congress requested the expansion.

"Follow the money trail," says David Williams. "Where are the planes being built. We don't know exactly who requested it, but if you follow the trail, you'll find someone whose district that this plane is being built (in), and that's what we're going to do; we're going to find out."

David Williams is Vice President of Policy for Citizens Against Government Waste. He knows Georgia Democrat Sanford Bishop submitted a request to the appropriations committee for one airplane on behalf of Georgia-based GulfStream.

"It could be Georgia," says Williams. "It could be anywhere in this country, but this plane has to be built somewhere and that member of Congress, I guarantee you, is behind it or knows about it."

Some argue the new private jets are necessary because they provide security for government officials when they're traveling in conflict zones. However, President Obama cancelled three helicopters slated to replace his existing fleet earlier this year.