Posted on 02/14/2011 6:25:45 AM PST by hedgetrimmer
The SUV from hell or just plain unlucky - either way, the state-owned, 2007 Toyota Highlander that's been assigned to two of San Francisco's state senators over the past four years has cost Californians well over $400,000.
This costly taxpayer ride began four years ago when then-state Sen. Carole Migden traded in her state-leased, $53,000 Cadillac STS for the greener Highlander hybrid.
The new wheels, which came complete with leather seats and moon roof, cost $41,078.
A few months later, Migden made motor news when she went on a wild 30-mile ride through Marin and Solano counties, sideswiping a guard rail and finally rear-ending a Honda at a red light.
Migden, who blamed her erratic driving on medication she was taking, was headed to a meeting with former Marin Assemblyman Joe Nation to talk about his endorsement for her re-election.
The trip proved to be a costly one for taxpayers:
-- $335,000 to settle the Honda driver's injury lawsuit.
-- Plus $16,798 to repair the rear-ended car.
-- Plus $9,681 to fix Migden's Highlander.
All paid by the public, because Migden was supposedly on state business.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
...greener Highlander hybrid...with leather seats and moon roof, cost $41,078.
Why does the state supply vehicles of this magnitude to lawmakers to drive as their personal vehicle? Or why does the state supply ANY vehicles at all to them?.............
Jerry Brown is coming to the California taxpayers in June, because he thinks the taxpayers are stupid enough to take all the responsibility off of his shoulders for tax increases, and he’s telling us up front he’s going to be selling his tax hikes to keep schools, parks, and hospitals open.
In actuality it’s the higher taxes he needs to keep his union supporters in their pensions so they keep voting Democrat.
The only thing Jerry Brown is going to cut is wind.
Those that do the approving are of the same elitist mindset as those making the request,
and they get away with it because most leftists also consider themselves “elite” as well.
On ‘official business?’. Sign out a car, and be sure to fill out the log book.
I'll never understand why any politician, at any level, should get a $50,000 vehicle for ‘official business’. It just seems logical to me that ‘official business’ should not include a car any fancier than what the average constituent is driving...at least last time I checked these idiots aren't royalty...yet.
How is talking about an endorsement for re-election State business?
so glad YOU asked .. I had the same question.
How many state legislators are there in CA who get taxpayer-funded cars? And not only taxpayer-funded cars, but very expensive taxpayer-funded cars. Not only taxpayer-funded expensive cars, but foreign taxpayer-funded cars. How about standard issue US sedans, IF the state gives them cars instead of reimbursing them for mileage only?
And, how was it ‘state business’ that she was going to meet a former assemblyman to endorse her re-election? Seems to me that should be an expense of her campaign, not the state. That is NOT state business.
Sick when pols can gig the taxpayers, but the taxpayers put them there, so let them pick up the tab until they get smart.
“Ill-fated SUV”
“SUV from Hell”
“the state-owned, 2007 Toyota Highlander ... has cost Californians well over $400,000.”
IDIOTS! It was your STATE SENATOR that has cost you $400,000!
What do you think the reaction would have been if the article had read:
“WOMAN DRIVER has cost Californians well over $400,000”?
“DEMOCRAT has cost Californians well over $400,000”?
“POLITICIAN has cost Californians well over $400,000”?
Those would be completely accurate, while the original article is inaccurate.
The taxpayers have only one choice; Higher taxes or no Police & Fire protection...............(So like the Federal Government)
I remember when the official AF vehicle was a Chrysler Reliant K. Not sexy, but got you from point A to point B when you were TDY.
Colonel, USAFR
Maybe they could issue them a used hiway patrol car that was going to auction?
Is the state self-insured for vehicles? It they have insurance, then it didn’t cost them nearly that much.
I don’t know why the state needs to provide a lawmaker with a vehicle at all, much less one with a $40,000+ price tag.
But the bulk of the costs in the article are for an accident caused by the lawmaker’s driving under the influence of medication and has little to do with it being an SUV.
Acupuncture is pure quackery. People report being just as satisfied with “sham” acupuncture as with “traditional” acupuncture. In other words, where they poke you doesn't make a bit of difference, but people who think an expert putting them up on a table and performing a complex procedure is going to help - report being “helped” by the process no matter where they were poked by the needles.
So this guy, in pursuit of giving away MORE taxpayer money for something absolutely useless, has his wife drop him off at the airport, she gets in an accident and is found at fault for ‘excessive speed’ and we the taxpayer have to pick up the tab!
GREAT!
They should not be getting anything at all on the taxpayer’s dime. Not even a skateboard..........
How is going to LA in the wee hours of the morning to meet with a former State Board doctor to talk about legitimizing accupuncture, etc? Both of these “legislators” are train wrecks, but then they represent “San Francisco Values” so what can you say. Migden “represented” the Gays, and I guess Yee “represents” the “Chinese Community.” Straight White’s are SOL in SF! It’s going to be interesting when Brown looses the “Egyptian Re Do” on the tax increase later this year. Sadly, California will be the last state to do what’s being done in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana with respect to public employee unions being shown the door. But it will have to happen here too eventually. Gravity does work everywhere!
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