Federal Employees Wine and Dine in First Class

"The refusal of many federal employees to fly coach costs taxpayers $146 million annually in flight upgrades."

Why do federal employees fly first class anyway?  If they were that important they would not be working in the federal government - would they? 

Now, if these employees really want to upgrade to first class from coach, then they should be forced to pay the difference and for any expenses out of their own pockets - just saying...

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