Posted on 07/11/2008 10:28:41 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
“Yes, we are reviewing and we will look at the report and act accordingly”....
Of course you will!....then put it in the round file...
All government “officials” (local,state,federal) should be driving a Ford Focus or similar car, unless security is a factor...............
“I think this certainly demonstrates that the county has a long way to go to convince taxpayers that it has a revenue problem and not a spending problem,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
—
Luxury cars for me
but not for thee
hell of a note, that.
Who woulda thunk it?
All animals are equal...except some animals are more equal than others.
They’re democrats...their corruption doesn’t count
Ah yes!...the prestige and perks of a guv’mt job, just let the taxpayer grab his ankles!.....
Nope. Kia Rio or Toyota Yaris or maybe a nice Smart Car or Tata. Or, even better, can we import a bunch of old East German Trabants and see how much horsepower they’ve got left over after being upgraded to California emission and safety standards?
}:-)4
I’m shocked, SHOCKED, that gov employees would take advantage of the people’s largess during a state economic disaster.
Something very, very harsh and direct will have to be done to clean out the rat's nest of political hacks and camp following bureaucrats.
“Nope. Kia Rio or Toyota Yaris or maybe a nice Smart Car or Tata...”
I agree. I would like to see these Ya Ya’s driving around in TaTa’s....after all, they preach “green” 24/7 to us.
Considering that government functions somewhat like a charity, they would be allowed the authorized IRS allowance of 14¢ per mile. In the rare instances where the employee can document performing anything positive, the standard 58.5 cents p/m would apply. No travel other than documented government business would be authorized.
You just watch, this will be swept under the rug, with every government official justifying this thievery. And nothing will change. These government officials are a bunch of crooks.
“No travel other than documented government business would be authorized”.....
And there’s the big fly in the soup!....No more Vegas getaways...
Don’t worry, L.A. county will solve this problem by buying more cars... count on it.
Why the H_ll do they get a vehicle in the first place. When my wife was a visiting nurse she used her own vehicle and got paid for mileage.Our local govt. cars are Ford Taurus’s, and I’m not happy about that. Someone out there needs to raise cain!
Reporting Pablo Guzman
NEW YORK (CBS) ― You may not realize it, but members of the House of Representatives can lease a car and have it paid for by you -- the taxpayer. And it's not just the car, but gas, registration, insurance … the works.
And as CBS 2 HD found out, there's no limit on how much they can spend.
Congressman Charles Rangel was recently seen getting out of his Cadillac DeVille, which he leases for $774 per month. Then there was Congressman Jose Serrano, getting out of his Buick LaCrosse, which he leases for $317 per month. And how about this one: Congressman Gregory Meeks was recently seen waiting for Congressman John Conyers to step out of Meeks' Lexus LS460, which Meeks leases for $998 per month.
All those leases are picked up by taxpayers through a little-known program available only to members of the House of Representatives.
You can probably just imagine the kind of reaction CBS 2 HD got from everyday citizens outside Meeks' Jamaica, Queens office.
"They should all drive cheaper cars, why not?" Richard Candelario said. "I mean, you know, they're making the money. I mean, we shouldn't pay for their cars."
Members of the House who choose to lease through the program have had a great deal of leeway. Congressman Anthony Weiner of Brooklyn, for example, leases a 2008 Chevy impala for $219/month. Congressman Ed Towns of Brooklyn used to lease a Lincoln for $845 per month, but switched to a 2008 mini-SUV made by Lincoln, the MKX, which costs $715 per month.
Rangel spoke to CBS 2 HD by phone about the seemingly extravagant expenses being racked up on the taxpayers' dime:
CBS 2 HD: "How would you answer those people who say, 'Well, but it's taxpayer money. Instead of $700 a month, could you find something for, say, $300 a month?'"
Rangel: "I could probably find something for ... one of those red cars and then I think my constituents would say, 'With all the money that he gets, this is the respect he shows us?'"
Earlier, Rangel released a statement, further addressing the issue.
"When I'm in New York, my car is my office. I use it to conduct Congressional business. It really pleases me that (my constituents) appreciate driving in a comfortable car, especially the senior citizens," Rangel said.
"The car isn't just a vehicle for getting around; it's an important part of doing my job and my constituents appreciate it."
Taxpayers CBS 2 HD spoke with were not buying that rationale.
"I drive a Toyota RAV and I feel that he could drive a Toyota RAV and probably lease it for $200," taxpayer Cathy Kraut said.
Of the 42 Congressmen in New Jersey and New York about a dozen participate in the leasing program.
The U.S. Senate does not permit its members to lease cars with public money.
</liberal thought>
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