Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times
Representative Charles B. Rangel says his leased Cadillac DeVille projects an image of success.
Posted on 04/30/2008 11:06:48 PM PDT by neverdem
Representative Anthony D. Weiner, Democrat of Brooklyn and Queens, drives a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, leased for $219 a month. Representative Michael R. McNulty, a Democrat from the Albany area, gets around in a 2007 Mercury Mariner hybrid, a sport utility vehicle, for $816 a month.
“It gets a little better than 25 miles a gallon,” Mr. McNulty said.
Charles B. Rangel, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is not so caught up in the question of gas mileage. He leases a 2004 Cadillac DeVille for $777.54 a month. The car is 17 feet long with a 300-horsepower engine and seats five comfortably.
“It’s one of the bigger Cadillacs,” Mr. Rangel, of Harlem, said cheerfully this week. “I’ve got a desk in it. It’s like an airplane.”
Modest or more luxurious, the cars are all paid for by taxpayers. The use of a car — gas included — is one of the benefits of being a member of the House of Representatives.
There are few restrictions on what kind of car the members can choose, and there is no limit on how much they can spend. But the benefit can be politically sensitive, given the growing concerns about automobile emissions and an economy that has left many people struggling to pay for the rapidly rising cost of gas, which was...
--snip--
Members have found themselves under fire in their districts for what their constituents may regard as extravagant tastes or for leasing foreign cars. Before the 2006 election, one Ithaca resident denounced Representative Maurice D. Hinchey’s lease of a BMW 530i to The Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, saying that Mr. Hinchey, a Democrat, “sticks it to” the taxpayers and American workers. (Mr. Hinchey also leases a 2007 Nissan Altima for $200 a month for his chief of staff.)...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I grew up in NYC -— I drive a 1997 Ford Escort. I get between 32 and 37 mpg. My husband drives a 2000 Ford Ranger. When we go up to NYC for my 30th HS reunion in October, we will be taking my Escort. When I have to drive in Brooklyn I want to be driving a vehicle I am REAL familiar with!
Growing up the first car I remember my parents having was a Ford Falcon, then my dad switched to Plymouth Fury, after 3 of them he went witha Delta 88. My grandfather was mostly a Chevy man.
This entire article repulses me, on SO many levels.
I think it is time for me to go back to bed —— good night! :)
If I had the choice, it would be Air Force One, Marine One and a red 1956 Cadillac convertible.
Businessmen need to look successful. Government officials don’t.
They should all be given used Yugos and “Le Cars.”
I would probably drive or ride in a SUV. Something like a Tahoe or Expedition. Something that four or more people can roll in and carry files and other stuff. Minivan would be an option as well, but I think both are about the same price today.
“Businessmen need to look successful. Government officials don’t.”
Especially Congressman and Senators. President is one thing, but I think the Government should just buy a fleet of Tahoes one year and then after three years buy a fleet of Expeditions. Nothing fancy just mid range models. Should get a decent discount on quantity orders.
Give them and their staff bodacious Tatas..
He should tell the constituents that the car is being paid for by their social security money.
Actually, I *do* like the idea of a hybrid, but not one of the hampster wheel type..more like a compact SUV, but more than just gas milage, I want an SUV that is designed, and set up, to be used as an emergency back up generator, during power outages and camping trips. I not only want a a weather proteced outlet, accessable from the outside of the car, I want electroninic monitoring, so that the car will shut off if the gass level gets below an 1/8 ogf a tank, and a security remote, so that the car can be turned on and off from inside the house, while denying the ability for someone to enter and drive away when it’s running to power the outlet.
Looking at the photo, I'd say it projects an image of not really caring about the "NO PARKING TODAY" sign covering the parking meter at the spot his Caddy is occupying. But really, that's an old rig, and to me at least, it isn't an image of success, it just looks like another old guy's car. Now if the guy was cruzin' in an Escalade with 26" gold plated spinners and huge LCD screens in it, with a 1000 watt stereo system, yeah, that would be an image of success, New York style. He'd be ridin' dirty...
If the taxpayers were footing the bill, I’d wouldn’t drive I’d fly.
A nice Gulfstream G-550. And a steal at only $40 million give or take a few hundred thousand for customization.
http://www.gulfstream.com/g550/
It would have been a nice touch if the list had mentioned to which party each of these guys belonged.
Yes, Charlie needs his Cadillac in order to “appear successful”. Nothing else about him conveys that message!
From the story which didn't say so explicitly, I got the impression that the vehicles were used by he Representatives just to tool around their districts.
Nothing. I can’t drive :-(
Egads, more and more I feel like I’m in Russia and these people are in the Kremlin.
Rangel = shitheel dirtbag bum. loudmouthed moron. Need I add, I’m not one of his supporters?
I just saw something like that today - but in a convertible!! Was still in its black primer with a miss-aligned door, but a nice interior (including the fuzzy dice from the mirror!).
14,000# GVW, 1 Ton 4X4 cab-over, with dual PTOs, Jake brake, and industrial reliability. 15-17mpg 4cyl turbo-diesel. It's slow, but indestructible.
Me want one.
A 16 valve VW Scirocco.
he can’t even hold his own umbrella..raining in that pic..taxpayers paying for the umbrella holder too! Hmmm, how can the government stop wasteful spending, I just don’t know....
Ganked CA Senator's dubbed-out Charger on eBay
Posted Feb 22nd 2008 2:04PM by Alex Nunez Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedans/Saloons, Auction Action, Dodge
You may remember the December story involving 62-year-old California State Senate President Pro Tem, Don Perata (D -
DUB CityOakland), who got his name in the paper after being jacked at gunpoint for his red 2006 Dodge Charger R/T. Of great amusement to everyone was the news that the Senator apparently rolled with mad flavor. His state-owned HEMI Charger, you see, was fitted with a set of 22" Panther wheels that are straight blingin'. So incongruous was the mental image of Perata rolling on deuce deuces that the police officer taking the carjacking call had to confirm what he'd heard, asking, "We're talking about the suspect's car or the senator's car?"Anyway, the Senator came through the incident unscathed and the Dodge was later recovered, dubs intact. Good thing, too, because that very car is up for grabs on eBay. You can now rock the party like Don Perata once did. Beyond the flying saucers sitting in the wheel wells, the Charger is stock, with the 5.7L HEMI and full Tupperware/faux wood interior. There are no bids yet, but a "Buy It Now" figure of $24,500 beckons aspiring players. As for the Senator, we wonder what the state has obtained for him this time around. Seeing as he's now shed his 22" training wheels and is ready step things up a level, perhaps Big Don will have the taxpayers set him up with something like this. It seems like it might suit his tastes.
All hail the Oligarchs!
Allow me to correct you, they shouldn't be given any cars, they should buy their own, or lease their own, just as the hardworking tax payers who are being ripped to provide these crooks in politicians clothing with cars, have to do!
Actually, those could be given in lieu of salary. They’re worth about $20 and $25 each (presuming they still have working radios).
bling ping!
This is an easy question to answer. I'd bet better political mileage from driving my own car. Certainly my salary would be able to cover a car payment and maintenance. It would be too much of a headache trying to constantly explain my choice of a taxpayer-funded car to my opponents and constituents. Best to just pay for it myself.
Z06 without even thinking about it.
(Grin)
“Concord tower, helicopter X-Ray Quebec Charlie requests clearance for straight out departure southeast.”
Another day another slap in the face for taxpayers.
Also, I like the sentence in the article “In 2007, the House adopted a rule requiring members to choose cars from a list of low-emissions vehicles approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.” ... who controlled Congress in 2007 hummmmmmmm ... could it be the RATS! Why those hypocrites!
SUVs famously roll over Interstate guardrails. Shouldn't that be rephrased a bit?
==8-O
“”...I would probably drive or ride in a SUV. Something like a Tahoe or Expedition. Something that four or more people can roll in...”
SUVs famously roll over Interstate guardrails. Shouldn’t that be rephrased a bit?
==8-O”
Are you being sarcastic? No SUVs don’t roll over anymore than any other car I have seen. Do you not know the term “rolling with my homies”?
I'd like someone to point to the section of the US Constitution that says we taxpayers are supposed to pay for the automobiles of members of Congress. Taxpayers sure didn't pay for horses and buggies for congresscritters back in the day.
This nation is trillions of dollars in debt, and that figure is growing daily. Meanwhile, these clowns continue to spend money like there is no end.
Everybody should think about that the next time they start talking about raising taxes, like Hillary or Obama in their stump speeches they are giving daily......
“Especially Congressman and Senators. President is one thing, but I think the Government should just buy a fleet of Tahoes one year and then after three years buy a fleet of Expeditions. Nothing fancy just mid range models. Should get a decent discount on quantity orders.”
They don’t even rate that, maybe when they actually start doing something useful and FIX something.
Until then, a fleet of leased vans to take them to and from home to the office should be FINE, just like the ones millions of Americans have to ride in.
Heck, I’d even allow them to get a discounted bus pass, but that’s it.
Stayed in a motel in Northern Michigan last week, and that motel just happened to be hosting some convention for state bureaucrats.
The parking lot was packed with brand new SUVs and pick-ups, bearing the logos for the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation.
Government by pigs, for pigs and of pigs.
These Pig Articles make me very angry. Friggin’ Government needs a big overhaul with a lot of B-Crats swinging from the oaks! L&L time.
They forgot to mention that those tax payer paid for cars are also drive by a chauffeur also paid for by Uncle Sam.
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