Sky Is the Limit For Some Lawmakers When It Comes To Leasing Vehicles With YOUR Tax Dollars

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.”

Shredmo - 3/17/2010 3:52:27 PM

+1 Boost

When they add in insurance maintenance and mileage, this is not ridiculous. I mean, one dude is leasing a 2009 Malibu and his monthly expense is $1200. Is fuel is part of this figure?

Agent009 - 3/17/2010 4:18:02 PM

0 Boost

I don't believe there is a way to predict fuel into a lease, so I would venture to say no.

Shredmo - 3/18/2010 10:04:44 AM

+1 Boost

I have to assume you are correct. More info would be interesting, such as the mileage allowance and more. Interesting, none the less.

izfuney - 3/17/2010 5:22:10 PM

+3 Boost

Well, they have already pretty much bought a GM on my dime with 50 billion plus bailout. add to it the AIG baliout + trillion dollars in dicking around in Afghanistan trying to bomb people in the stone age back into the stone age ..Not to mention the trillion dollars spent in Iraq where "democracy" has led to the election of "Sadr". Yup .. well spent indeed ..
Plus if you throw in the 11 billion in aid to Pakistan so that the Generals can pad their swizz bank accounts while their taliban "strategic depth" cronies take pot shots at our soldiers .. you realize that 1000 dollars a month .. is less that loose change ..
let em enjoy it !!