MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson's plane is grounded by what he calls "a pretty stupid deal."
Normally, the veteran D-F-L'er likes to fly his private, single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza around the sprawling Seventh Congressional District of western Minnesota.
But new ethics rules passed by Congress have kept Peterson's plane on the ground since last month.
Peterson is the new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. He says when he was told he would no longer be reimbursed for flying his own plane on official business, he threatened to propose making it illegal for any member of Congress to drive their own car until his problem was resolved.
Peterson's district covers 35 counties, stretching from the Canadian border to near the southwest corner of Minnesota.
