White House travel tab exceeds $290 million

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The 159 international trips made by President Clinton -- the most widely traveled American president -- and other administration officials since 1997 have cost taxpayers at least $292 million, according to a report published Friday.

A General Accounting Office review of the administration's travel expenses said that most of the costs were paid by the Pentagon, which provides the two jetliners that serve as Air Force One and other aircraft.

The GAO study, which was obtained by The Washington Post, was requested by six Republican senators, most of whom declined to comment until the study is made public.

However, one of the lawmakers, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, called the costs "exorbitant."

A Clinton spokesman accused the Republicans of requesting the report for political purposes. The White House said the type of expenses were similar to the expenditures of other administrations.

The GAO said that Clinton's 27 trips during the last three years account for 85 percent, or $247 million, of the total aircraft cost, the Post said. Next week he plans to fly to Africa.

The Post said the Republican lawmakers did not request comparable data on other administrations.

The report is scheduled for release next month.

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