# Question about the legality of using government transportation for campaign purposes. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-legality-of-using-government-transportation-for-campaign-purposes/262842 "2004-09-02T21:48:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-legality-of-using-government-transportation-for-campaign-purposes/262842/1 "2004-09-02T21:48:08Z")
If I recall correctly, you’re not even allowed to make a campaign call on a government phone, so since virtually everything George W. Bush will be doing for the next two months is campaigning is it illegal, or even an ethics violation, for him to travel on government aircraft? It seems to me that it should be, since he will be using government resources to campaign it is at least the ethical equivalent of making a call. If I’m wrong on this, this will be a good opportunity for me to learn, because I simply don’t have any idea. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-legality-of-using-government-transportation-for-campaign-purposes/262842/2 "2004-09-03T02:21:31Z")
The President has to travel in the secure manner provided by the Secret Service, such as AF One, various special cars and limousines etc. When this is on a political campaign trip the RNC reimburses the government. I don’t think they pay the whole cost. _I.e._ there are Secret Service agents with him or her all the time out in public anyway so that’s not really a campaign cost. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-legality-of-using-government-transportation-for-campaign-purposes/262842/3 "2004-09-03T02:42:48Z")
And on a lot of these campaign junkets they will do something else on the side so that they can claim it was government business and not have to pay a dime. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-legality-of-using-government-transportation-for-campaign-purposes/262842/4 "2004-09-03T02:53:22Z")
IIRC, the reimbursement idea got started under Reagan. There had been some complaints, so the RNC started paying part of the cost of the trip. But I think **Reeder** is mistaken here. If there is any campaigning, then the Party is on the hook for some of the cost. I could be mistaken, but I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-legality-of-using-government-transportation-for-campaign-purposes/262842/5 "2004-09-03T03:34:53Z")
This is one of the biggest imbalances between the “ins” and the “outs.” Bush only has to pay standard airfare back to the Treasury. Kerry has to shell out big bucks for a charter plane. Bush also gets to call which speeches are “presidential” and which are “campaign”. So this year the Dems complain and the GOP says they’re going by the rules. In 1996 it was the other way around. It’s just like the Lincoln bedroom “scandal.” (Except you haven’t heard about it’s use lately, have you? What a surprise!) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-legality-of-using-government-transportation-for-campaign-purposes/262842/6 "2004-09-03T05:01:39Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > And on a lot of these campaign junkets they will do something else on the side so that they can claim it was government business and not have to pay a dime. I’m pretty sure in a case like that, it’s pro rata. The government will say something like (for example) 72% of the trip was for business and 28% for campaigning, and charge them 28% of the total. And looking at “The White House Staff” by Bradley Patterson (good book by the way), I see that’s the case. The White House counsel and political affairs staff decide what portion of the trip is political, then the campaign is charged for that. The book also says: (I’ve changed the formatting and snipped a lot.) > [@](#): > > (1) Assuming the trip is nonpolitical, the White House budget itself supports only the travel expenses of the advance teams and the presidential party (and its VIP guests), including the staff of the White House Press Office. > > (2) For any trip, political or not, the government covers those costs that relate to the president’s security…[it points out this includes secret service, medical personnel, the White House Communication agency, and military aides.] > > (3) Members of the White House press Corps pay for their own travel expenses. > > (4) All local "event expenses [cost of renting a hall,risers, banners, motorcade vehicles, etc) must be borne by host groups.