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Republican lawmakers criticize President Biden for using taxpayer money to fly to Delaware to vote in this week’s state primary despite advocating mail-in ballots, but Democrats defended his move.
A Republican lawmaker told Fox News Digital that the president’s round trip was a waste of taxpayer money and at odds with policies the White House has pursued since taking office.
“Flying short distances to vote seems pretty bad for the environment,” said RS.C. Rep. Nancy Mace. “But second, he’s been mailing in ballots for the past two years, and he’s going to go vote in person this time. It’s a little hypocritical.”
Other lawmakers questioned why Biden chose not to pay for the trip himself. It was two days before going back to the state.
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“All I think is who paid for it. Does he pay for it? I pay when I go to vote,” said R-Ala Senator Tommy Tuberville. I was. “I think everyone else does. I read $177,000 because I forgot my absentee ballot. That’s not a very good example for anyone.”
The exact cost of the trip remains unknown, but the Air Force reported in 2014 that the average cost of flying the president’s Boeing 747 for an hour was more than $206,000. on a Boeing 757 to Delaware.
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“I think it’s a huge waste of taxpayer money,” said R-Ala Rep. Gary Palmer. “I think this is another sign of how Democrats are politicizing everything because it’s all about show, not about actually getting into the election.”
The White House defended the visit, saying the president felt it was important to show the American public the importance of voting when questions arose about the integrity of the election.
White House Press Secretary Carine Jeanne-Pierre said, “The president has a very busy schedule. It’s important that he…exercises his right to vote and sets an example by showing the importance of voting.” I thought it was.”
Democrats in Congress say the Republican criticism is unjustified.
Rep. Lisa Brandt Rochester (D-Del.) told Fox News Digital:
Other Democrats, such as Rep. Richie Torres, argued that Republicans who criticized Biden’s decision to vote directly in Delaware were in fact hypocrites.
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“I remember Republicans who were critical of absentee voting,” Torres said. “So these criticisms seem to be based largely on malice. He has all the right votes in person. As president, no matter how busy his schedule is, he finds time to participate as a citizen.” I am proud to have been able to do this.”