Reports have alleged that Senator Kyrsten Sinema has spent over $200,000 of taxpayers’ money on private jet expenses. The public servant entrusted with representing the interests of her constituents violated the public’s trust by indulging in her lavish lifestyle at taxpayers’ expense.
Since the senator departed from the Democratic Party in 2022, there have been investigations over her use of taxpayer funds. According to The Daily Beast, she took 11 private jet trips over the past four years. Four of the said trips occurred in 2023, totaling a reported amount of $116,000 in plane expenses.
Most of these flights allegedly happened within Arizona for brief one to two-day excursions. She also took a plane with her staff from Phoenix to Tucson, Bisbee, and Douglas before returning to Tucson and Phoenix, incurring a cost of $13,840. She has paid travel companies approximately $210,000 for chartered flights since she began her tenure in 2020.
As disclosed by The Daily Beast, senators are granted a limited budget for their yearly office allowances. In Sinema’s case, she is granted $4 million for each fiscal year. This allocation will cover expenses, including staff salaries, office supplies, transportation, etc. But, there are no rules to flying private jets.
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Therefore, it may not be illegal for her to allocate a substantial portion of her office budget toward private air travel. However, it’s an issue because senators’ budgets are limited. Officials are usually prudent with their spending to save money for their offices.
But that’s not the case with Sinema. Even more worrisome is that her expenses on private jets are higher than the annual salaries of her top staff. Her decision to prioritize luxury travel over the essential functions of her office speaks to her irresponsibility.
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“This is one of those things that raises the question of whether this is the best way to manage the budget. Could she be doing more for the state otherwise?” Jordan Libowitz, of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told the news outlet.
The news outlet also revealed that she spent vast campaign cash on flights and lodging for marathon and triathlon competitions. These expenses were incurred in various parts of the country in May 2023.
She has also spent $560,000 on personal security. Her reason may be attributed to her safety or the need to avoid wasting time. Still, the outrageous expenses are not justified.
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Regarding the revelation, CEO of OpenTheBooks–Adam Andrzejewski, said, “Every member of Congress should possess the personal discipline to ground themselves from private, chartered airplanes paid for by taxpayers. Sinema should win the Golden Fleece award for her $210,000 in chartered, expensive air flights.” He further suggested that a U.S. senator’s $4 million annual office allotment should be revisited.
Elected officials must act in the public’s best interests and prioritize the responsible use of campaign funds. Therefore, constituents deserve to know how their campaign contributions are being used. They must learn whether their funds are spent in the public’s interest. Senator Sinema owes her constituents that much.
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