Florida's Scott Auctions Off State-Owned Planes

Florida Gov. Rick Scott will auction off a pair of state-owned airplanes used to shuttle governors and other dignitaries around the state, the Palm Beach Post's Post on Politics web site reports. Scott, who plans to use his private jet instead, called the $2.4 million annual bill for a gubernatorial air fleet "an unnecessary burden to taxpayers."

State lawmakers, judges and cabinet members long accustomed to rides on the 2001 Beech King Air 350 and the 2003 Cessna Citation Bravo will have to find other ways of getting around.

Bidding for both birds commences at 2 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Aircraft Shopper Online. Scott opted against eBay, where then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tried without luck to unload one of her state's planes before resorting to a jet broker.