Billy House
Republic Washington Bureau
Mar. 27, 2004 12:00 AM
WASHINGTON - A president's trips are paid for by taxpayers, except those purely
for private or campaign activities.
When the president "piggyback" a campaign trip onto an official trip,
the costs are divided proportionally between taxpayers and the president's campaign
based on time spent on each activity.
President Bush's trip to Phoenix on Friday, and an earlier stop in Albuquerque, did not have a campaign or fund-raising component, according to the White House.
Kenneth Walsh, author of Air Force One: A History of the Presidents and Their Planes, says that at least $200 million a year is budgeted by various agencies for presidential trips.
Flying Air Force One costs an estimated $40,000 an hour, but the larger expense of presidential travel consists of advance trips by staff members, the number of White House aides accompanying the president, arrangements for communications and other details.