GOP leaders deny vote on banning first-class airfare for lawmakers

A proposal to ban members of Congress from using federal funds to buy first-class airfare won’t get a vote on the House floor.

Reps. Rod Blum (R-Iowa), Gwen Graham (D-Fla.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) had filed an amendment to the annual appropriations bill for legislative branch operations that would forbid lawmakers from purchasing luxury airfare accommodations on taxpayers’ tab with no exceptions.

But the House Rules Committee, which acts as an arm of leadership and decides how legislation is considered on the floor, didn’t grant their amendment a vote.

{mosads}The House will vote Tuesday afternoon on the $3.3 billion legislative branch appropriations bill, which maintains a pay freeze on lawmakers’ salaries in place since 2010.

During Monday’s House Rules Committee hearing, Democrats questioned whether a ban on members of Congress flying first-class was truly practical.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) asked if the ban would apply if a lawmaker was bumped up to first class due to frequent flier points at no extra cost. (It would not.) The Massachusetts Democrat denied the suggestion that members of Congress frequently enjoy posh first-class seating arrangements as they travel back and forth between their districts and Washington.

“I don’t think members are going around buying first-class tickets,” McGovern said. “I just don’t think it’s a problem.”

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) asked Blum what motivated him to craft the measure banning first-class airfare.

Blum, a first-term lawmaker, said he heard complaints about it from constituents while campaigning in his district last year.

“I heard about it numerous times on the campaign trail from citizens,” Blum said. “I think it would send a great message to working families that are hurting that we share empathy for their situation by doing this.”

Hastings posed a hypothetical of a lawmaker being forced to choose between flying first-class on a booked fight with no more coach seats available or missing votes at the Capitol.

“I’d say take the next flight,” Blum said.

“And miss the votes they were required to undertake here?” Hastings asked.

“If need be, yes,” Blum said.

Multiple lawmakers have introduced bills to prevent fellow members of Congress from buying first-class airfare for themselves with federal funds.

Graham, with Blum as a co-sponsor, introduced legislation earlier this year to ban lawmakers from using taxpayer funds for first-class airfare. Her bill would also prohibit members of Congress from using taxpayer funds for long-term car leases for personal use.

Gosar also crafted a bill this month titled the Coach-Only Airfare for Capitol Hill (COACH) Act. However, Gosar’s measure would allow exceptions to accommodate disabilities or other medical needs.

Blum and Graham are two top targets heading into the 2016 election.