OPINION: Double Talk On Corporate Jets

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

Two years ago President Obama signed legislation to boost sales of corporate jets by accelerating tax depreciation. But this week, Obama attacked corporate jets as a symbol of greedy people he wants to pay more in taxes.

So what if we follow Obama’s advice, and punish those who buy private jets? First, it hurts thousands of American jobs at the companies that build the airplanes.

It also jeopardizes the jobs of thousands more who work on the planes and who operate the general aviation facilities that manage their flights.

President Obama, though, gets to fly on something bigger, better and costlier—Air Force One. He’s using it a lot lately to fly around the country holding campaign events. That’s okay for him, but Congress, he says, should cancel its travel and stay in Washington and work.

Obama said these things this week—but they still don’t make sense.

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