Your Tax Dollars at Work?

Earlier today, Goldy at HorsesAss.org pointed out that CEO VP Cheney's visit to WA State was costing $193,079.41. But it wasn't all stumping for the GOP, Cheney worked in an official government function =

During a 17-minute speech inside a giant hangar at Fairchild, Cheney thanked about 500 airmen for their sacrifices in the war in Iraq. (article)

So that's a 11,357.61 tax-dollar per minute official U.S. Government 'thank you'. He couldn't have just mailed them a nice card?