Last week we pointed out the sandbox politics in the New York state Senate (update here). Today let’s travel to California and marvel at the fleet of luxury cars that taxpayers provide to state legislators — who don’t seem to be the most careful drivers. From the Los Angeles Times:
Under the lease formula, 44 legislators pay less than $50 a month to have new cars. Some pay more. …
Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) drives a Cadillac CTS purchased for him by the state for $41,300, including $4,226 for upgraded wheels and Bluetooth. Huff said he pays $145 per month for the car, essentially covering the upgrades. …
Several lawmakers have had multiple accidents, including former state Sen. Carole Migden, a San Francisco Democrat who still has use of a state car as a member of the Integrated Waste Management Board.
In June 2006, Migden sideswiped a bus, costing the state $5,027, records show. Less than a year later, in May 2007, she rear-ended a car that then struck a third vehicle. The state paid $25,479 for property damage and still faces claims from those injured.
Apparently, this is an evergreen outrage story in California (much like our police details). Two years ago the Oakland Tribune ran a story headlined “Taxpayers pay for car crashes by lawmakers.”