Posted on 06/15/2009 8:34:28 PM PDT by Steelfish
Legislators' cars cost taxpayers $3.2 million in three years
The cost includes gasoline and insurance coverage. Spouses and offspring are covered too. The benefits, rare outside California, may be curtailed.
By Patrick McGreevy June 15, 2009
Reporting from Sacramento -- When not in a capital gripped by budget crises, state Sen. Ron Calderon can be found touring his San Gabriel Valley district in a Cadillac STS V8 Luxury Sports Sedan that the state bought for $54,830.
The Democrat from Montebello spent an average $83 per week on gasoline last year, charged to California taxpayers on a state-issued card.
When legislators' cars need maintenance or are in accidents -- even with spouses or offspring at the wheel -- taxpayers also pay, state records show.
The cost of providing lawmakers with Cadillacs, Lincoln Town Cars, Priuses and Lexuses, keeping the vehicles full of gas and fixing them when they crash was $3.2 million during the last three years.
Although that sum is a small fraction of the $24-billion budget shortfall, it has drawn the attention of the California Citizens Compensation Commission. The panel, which determines lawmakers' pay and recently voted to slash their salaries by 18% starting next year, will meet this week to consider cutting benefits as well.
Commission Chairman Charles Murray said the idea that taxpayers are providing legislators with $50,000 luxury cars is hard to swallow, given the state's budget problems.
"I personally think it's ludicrous," said Murray, who owns an insurance company in Los Angeles. "You have guys out of work, people losing their job, departments downsizing, and they [legislators] are saying, 'Look at me in my STS.' "
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Maybe Obama’s “Pay Czar” should start off by examining the salaries and benefit packages of “Public Servants” instead of private companies. These California public trough dwellers spend the public treasury far too freely. Why do they even need cars provided by the taxpayers? Let them do their work at desks, not driving around.
Tar.......feathers.....
LOL! A Bentley grill! Legislature bling! And the California Democrats whine they can't raise taxes.
California needs to reign-in these pukes. Make 'em a part-time legislature and cut-up their government cards. Make 'em pay out of pocket for expenses and file weekly expense reports to get reimbursement.
And get rid of their cars!!
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"I'd like to personally thank the idio.. voters of Caleeforneeia for my Bentley grill.
A graduate of the Velvet Jones School of Public Administration.
Polluting vehicles still in state’s cross hairs (CA)
SACRAMENTO – California plans to accelerate its ongoing campaign to sweep more dirty cars off the streets while Congress duels over high-profile “cash for clunkers” legislation.
In Sacramento, the Air Resources Board this month is expected to approve a $30 million expansion of a program that pays motorists $1,000 to turn over their heavy-polluting vehicles for dismantling.
-———Kalifornia Dreamin’
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