Lawmakers spend 1K/month on taxpayer-funded cars

Politico ^ | 03/15/10 | JAKE SHERMAN

[OldDeckHand]

The economy is still limping along, but some members of Congress are nevertheless riding in style: At least 10 House members are spending more than $1,000 a month in taxpayer money to lease cars.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver appears to be the biggest spender.

In the last quarter of 2009, the Missouri Democrat doled out $2,900 a month to lease a WiFi-equipped, handicap-accessible mobile office that runs on used cooking oil.

“Rather than paying for an additional office, the congressman has a mobile office, with all the capabilities to do casework across the district,” Cleaver spokesman Danny Rotert wrote in an e-mail. “We can go where our constituents are and accommodate those in wheelchairs with the mobile office’s lift.”

But at least nine other members are paying more than $1,000 a month for more basic rides.

[OldDeckHand]

When Washington and Jefferson ran errands around DC, did they do so on a leased stallion? Probably not, eh?

Why in the world does any member of Congress get ANY form of tax-payer funded transportation - with the possible exception of the SOTH, who of course is in the line of succession, so there are legitimate security concerns. DC has a robust public transportation system. They should ALL take advantage of it. If trains are good enough for the little people, they're good enough for them.

[WOBBLY BOB]

par for the course:

Lawmakers Keep the Change (from travel per-diems)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2462301/posts

[cyclotic]

A few years ago, I met Senator Spencer Abraham at an event in Michigan. He showed up in a very basic late model Buick and drive himself. I was impressed.