(Off Camera) Finally tonight, a fish story. But this one's about the tax dollars that got away. Why did the Federal government spend half a million dollars to paint the world's biggest flying fish? It's "Your Money." Here's ABC's David Kerley.
DAVID KERLEY, ABC NEWS
(Voice Over) Northwest fishmongers are famous for their so-called flying fish. Now there really is one. With great fanfare, Alaska Airlines rolled out what it calls the "Salmon-30-Salmon," which today went into service. Thirty painters with 140 gallons of paint worked around the clock for 24 days to put a 100-foot salmon on this 737, a $500,000 paint job and campaign to promote Alaska's seafood, paid for by the Federal government.
KEITH ASHDOWN, TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE
Only Congress can turn fish into pork. Paint jobs for private airplanes are one thing. But Uncle Sam should not be paying for it.
DAVID KERLEY
(Off Camera) Uncle Sam is paying for it, through the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board. Created less than three years ago, the board has been given 29 million Federal dollars to promote Alaskan seafood, everything from salmon to Alaskan crab legs.
DAVID KERLEY
(Voice Over) Alaska's powerful Senator Ted Stevens, pushed through the funding, which even fellow Republicans now question.
SENATOR TOM COBURN, REPUBLICAN, OKLAHOMA
The money is wasted. I don't think anybody's going to buy Alaskan seafood because they see a fish on the side of an airplane.
DAVID KERLEY
(Voice Over) When asked if taxpayer money should be used for a flying billboard, the marketing board said, "It's very appropriate. It's a great way to get our message out." We asked to speak to the board chairman, but we were told he was not available. Who is the chairman? Ben Stevens, president of the Alaska Senate. And son of, guess who?
KEITH ASHDOWN
Lo and behold, the person running the marketing board for Alaska is Ted Stevens's son. You know, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, here. Ted Stevens is the king of pork.
DAVID KERLEY
(Voice Over) It's actually a king salmon on the jet. A spokeswoman for Senator Ted Stevens calls the half-million dollar flying fish "a good thing." It's "Your Money." David Kerley, ABC News, Washington.
ELIZABETH VARGAS
(Off Camera) A "Salmon-30-Salmon."
ELIZABETH VARGAS
(Off Camera) And that is "World News Tonight" for this Tuesday. I'm Elizabeth Vargas. For all of us at ABC News, good night.
