What’s the Story?
State flight records and investigative reporting reveal that Texas Democratic lawmakers were granted access to a dedicated executive-style jet, valued at $40 million, owned and maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Charter rates for similar jets exceed $15,000 per hour—meaning even short flights rack up massive taxpayer expense.Texas Scorecard+5KVue+5KVue+5
Key Details
TxDOT owns four executive jets reserved for “official state business,” but dozens of flights appear personal or political—from legislative travel to family graduations.Texas Scorecard+5KVue+5KVue+5
The $40M figure reflects the combined value of the jet fleet, all taxpayer-funded and assigned to elected officials.KVueTexas Scorecard
Usage cost: Typical charter rates for comparable jets range from $12,000–$21,000 per flying hour, depending on flight duration and position legs.reddit.comKVue
Examples & Ethics Concerns
Speaker Dade Phelan (R), though not a Democrat, used a TxDOT jet to attend a left-leaning festival and then diverted to Lubbock for a football game fundraiser, raising over $37,500. The trip blurred lines between public duty and campaign activity.star-telegram.com+11Texas Scorecard+11KVue+11
Other legislators reportedly used jets as “air taxis” for family graduations or short hops from Houston to Austin—costing thousands, sometimes for solo passenger flights.Texas Scorecard+2KVue+2KVue+2
⚠️ Why This Matters
Taxpayer accountability: Using public jets at high hourly rates for non-essential travel raises serious questions about oversight and misuse of public funds.
Lack of transparency: According to watchdogs, TxDOT’s system relies mainly on the honor of officials to verify whether a flight qualifies as official business.star-telegram.com+2KVue+2Dallas Express+2
Partisan optics: Critics argue that funding Democratic lawmakers’ travel on state jets while denying such privileges to others smacks of unequal access and political favoritism.
Quick Facts Snapshot
Metric Detail
Jet Value ~$40 million
Estimated Cost/Hour ~$15,000+
Purpose Official business vs. political
Oversight Minimal, honor-based reporting
Campaign Use Example $37K+ raised mid-trip fundraiser
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