Calls on Risch and Rammell to Join Him and for Risch to Disclose Costs of Recent Corporate Aircraft He Used

Boise—Larry LaRocco, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, pledged to Idahoans he would never use corporate aircraft for personal or campaign purposes while a candidate or while serving in the U.S. Senate.

LaRocco called on GOP candidates Jim Risch and Rex Rammell to join him in this pledge to Idahoans.

Additionally, LaRocco called on Jim Risch to disclose the cost and date of reimbursement for his recent use of a luxury Lear 45 jet aircraft owned by Melaleuca, Inc. 

“Jim Risch’s use of a corporate luxury jet for campaign purposes was a breach of trust with Idahoans and should be fully transparent and disclosed,” LaRocco said.

“Apparently Jim Risch has learned nothing from the recent Abramoff scandals,” LaRocco said.

“The Congress has passed Public Law 110-81, ‘The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007,’ signed into law on September 14, 2007. Title VI of this law deals with the ‘Prohibited use of Private Aircraft’ by Senate candidates. The owner of the aircraft must be reimbursed at the fair market value of the flight as if it were a charter flight on a comparable aircraft, and it must be done quickly. Idahoans are entitled to know immediately the cost of that flight and the relationship with the owner of the aircraft.”

“The culture of corruption in Washington, D.C., was dealt a blow by the passage of Public Law 110-81, and yet Jim Risch has chosen to continue the practices of the old Congress with a distinct aura of entitlement and coziness with the power elite. The travel has occurred and the reimbursement should have been made quickly.  Idahoans deserve to know the facts, and Jim Risch should reveal those facts immediately. My research indicates that Risch’s luxury tour in the Melaleuca corporate Lear 45 jet cost at least $10,000,” LaRocco said.

“Jim Risch and Rex Rammell should join me in pledging never to use corporate aircraft for personal or campaign purposes. Jim Risch used state of Idaho resources to campaign in 2006 and, without missing a beat, is now using corporate resources. Working Idahoans do not have access to these resources in either case and neither should candidates for office. It’s time to end business as usual,” LaRocco said.

LaRocco is the only candidate running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. LaRocco served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho’s First Congressional District from 1991–1995.