The World Newser is World News' daily blog. Here, you'll find our staff's thoughts on the day's news and the way we build our broadcast. Plus, we'll share reports from our team of correspondents in the field, as well as producers behind-the-scenes.
RECENT POSTS
- Hillary Clinton: Healed and Traveling to Site of Terror Attack
- GM Auction: Everything...Including the Golf Course...Must Go!
- Assisted Suicide -- Should It Be Legal?
- 17-Year Old Completes Solo Voyage Around the World
- ABC's Original Coverage of First Man Landing on the Moon
- Starbucks Trying to be Less Like Starbucks
- MUST WATCH: Sneaky Hidden Fees That Cost You Money
- A Facebook Update on the American Town Without Running Water
- 'Didn't the White House prepare you?'
- What's the Safest Way to Travel Through Afghanistan?
- Gov Sanford “Out of State But In Country.”
- Palin Fundraising For The Left?
WORLD NEWSER CATEGORIES
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
GM Giveback: Two Private Jets
November 21, 2008 3:03 PM
You may have seen ABC's Brian Ross -- reporting the other day on the car company CEOs using private jets to carry them to Washington, DC...where they then asked for money. Here's an update from Reuters:
GM to return two leased jets amid criticism
General Motors Corp will return two of its leased corporate jets amid intense criticism in Washington this week on the luxury travel arrangements of its chief executive even as the company pleads for federal aid. CEO Rick Wagoner was in the capital to testify on the company's dire financial situation but his testimony was overshadowed by irate lawmakers who blasted him for flying on a private jet to ask for public funds and failing to make personal sacrifices in exchange for federal assistance.
Chief executives from Ford Motor Co, and Chrysler LLC, who were also there to plead for $25 billion in federal aid, came under fire too for flying to Washington in private jets. GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said on Friday GM decided to return the aircraft because of a "really aggressive cutback in travel."
The company, which is in a cost-cutting mode, is scrutinizing every trip, he said, but declined to disclose the name of the company it leases the airplanes from. Wilkinson said the decision to return the leased corporate jets was made before this week's hearings and that the company in September returned two other of the seven jets it had at the beginning of the year.
"There is a perception issue," Wilkinson said of Wagoner's travel to Washington on a private jet. "We need to be very sensitive to that going forward."
November 21, 2008 in Economy | Permalink | Share | User Comments (2)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Did not one of the bail outs, have their people at a luxury Hotel in Calif for a week end?
Did Fannie and Freddie gain the land and property of the foreclosures?
So we bail out the wealthy, so they do not loose.
We refuse the ones which pay the peoples pay checks. So the only ones who loose are the people.
Help the wealthy and gain controlling interest, hurt the people, then come back and throw crumbs to them and make them beleive you care. Creating a Bigger Swing to Socialization than ever before.
Plus you knew Just what you were doing going into the bail outs would be that.
The People get fooled again.
Posted by: seah | Nov 21, 2008 3:39:16 PM
How many Banks gave up their corporate jets, NONE.
The government "feels the Pain" of the Wall Street Bankers, not the common laborers of the auto companies. The Double Standard Continues!!!
As an auto worker and tax payer, I feel embarrased by the stupidity of our elected officals. Where is the business plan of the bankers, it is confidential...because it doesn't exist.
Posted by: David :Young | Nov 21, 2008 9:06:30 PM
Post a comment
