Posted by Damozel | It's all about respect, according to Congressman Charles Rangel.
""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. "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?'" (WBCBSTV.com)
This, then, he is telling himself --- respect for his constituents --- is why he must spend $774 tax dollars per month to lease a Cadillac DeVille. You and I, of course, know what his constituents would really think if they knew they were paying for his expensive car: "With all the money that he gets, can't he afford to finance the cost of his own luxury vehicle?" Or at least part of it?
As one of the people interviewed said, ""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."(WBCBSTV.com) Another said, ""They should all drive cheaper cars, why not?.... [T]hey're making the money. I mean, we shouldn't pay for their cars.""(WBCBSTV.com)
I can see that a Congressman might need a larger car than the wee, gas-efficient vehicle that I bought with my own much scantier funds. I can understand why the Senate doesn't extend the same courtesy to its own --- generally --- much wealthier members (though I'll hazard a guess that they get to write off all or part of the expense of their luxury cars on the 'the car is my office' theory, which comes to the same thing). And I can even see why a car should be an expense that the government should defray. (WBCBSTV.com) After all, many businesses provide their employees with a company car.
But I guess I don't see why taxpayers need to cover more than the cost of a basic vehicle to transport the particular member of Congress from point A to point B.
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....All those leases are picked up by taxpayers through a little-known program available only to members of the House of Representatives.... (WBCBSTV.com)
It's only fair to say that not all of them take full advantage of the taxpayers' generosity. Only about 12 of the 42 representatives from New Jersey and New York participate in this program, and of those who do, not all of them seem to have constituents with the elegant tastes ascribed by Rangel to his, though some do.
One of those who presumably shares Rangel's views of what is an appropriate vehicle for a member of Congress seems to have downgraded his lease slightly, perhaps in a nod to the impending or current recession.
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 (WBCBSTV.com) .
Fuel efficient! And after all, what could be more appropriate for a Congressman to drive than a car named after Lincoln?
In contrast, "Congressman Anthony Weiner of Brooklyn....leases a 2008 Chevy impala for $219/month," the article says. See, I wouldn't have a problem with that. If there were a ceiling of that much per month on the vehicles, I wouldn't say a word. And from the comments of the taxpayers who were interviewed, they are perfectly willing for their representatives to have a 'business vehicle' provided by the government; they just aren't willing to defray the entire cost of a luxury car.
Just another example --- like taxpayer-funded luxury travel for government officials --- of the way those 'tax dollars' so dear to all of us are really getting spent.
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