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Slime green: Congress says kiss my gas
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The very same Congressmen -- and women -- who voted to gift $17 billion to bail-out Chrysler and General Motors are driving the big, lumbering, gas guzzling models that put Detroit in this pickle to begin with. Except for the elected officials who aren't even driving Made in America, opting instead to drive fancy foreign performance sport sedans.
Worse -- according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, some 130 members of the House of Representatives are leasing vehicles paid by us taxpayers. Let's start with the guys who are not supporting Detroit -- or -- in effect, telling the bail-out they voted for to kiss my gas.
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, of New York's 6th district, drives a top-of-the-line Lexus LS 460, which is costing the taxpayers of Brooklyn a whopping $998 a month. Dear Congressman, I'm sure those of your constituents who have just lost their jobs are very happy to see you driving around in your fancy Lexus, maybe to stop by a food pantry to ask how they're doing. And what kind of mileage does Rep. Meeks get? According to the EPA, 17 mpg city, 25 highway. There are lots of highways in Brooklyn.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey of New York's 22nd district, which includes the economically-depressed Catskills area, leases a BMW 530i. Okay, at least it'sthe middle-model Beemer, not as big as a 7 Series. 17 city, 18 highway. Not as good as the Nissan Altima Rep.Hinchey also leases. The two vehicles cost a total of $700 a month, according to the New York Times, which also reported that two other NewYork State congressmen lease Jeep Grand Cherokees, which get a remarkable 9 mpg in city driving.
The Los Angeles Times reported recently that 21 of California’s 53 House members lease vehicles, among them Reps. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) and Laura Richardson (D-Long Beach ), who get around in Lincoln Town Cars. Rep. Richardson's Lincoln gets the award for the most expensive lease in Cogress -- a staggering $1,300 a month. Paid by us taxpayers, thank you very much. Rep. Richardson, for that price I hope the keys to your kingdom on wheels are at least gold-plated.
Wait. It gets worse. Under a regulation passed in 2008, House members who lease on the taxpayer's wallet must select vehicles that are considered green cars -- models that get good gas mileage and emit low levels of greenhouse gasses. Cars that will help reduce both dependence on foreign oil and climate change. The rule was part of last year's energy bill, and it was pushed by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.),who drives a used Ford Econoline, once used as an airport shuttle, converted to run on recycled french fry cooking oil.
So, the good news is our Congressmen -- and women -- will have to give up their hulks and guzzlers for something more environmentally friendly.
The bad news is that means we taxpayers will be paying for our elected officials to switch to more foreign cars, because there are more Japanese and German models that fit the fuel sipper regulation than what's Made In America. Models like the Toyota Prius -- Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) drives one -- or the Nissan Altima Hybrid, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry hybrids, Green Car of the Year VW Jetta TDI diesel, Mercedes-Benz E-320 BlueTEC diesel. Great cars, all, but should we taxpayers be funding our lawmakers to buy foreign when they just voted to give BILLIONS to save Detroit?
Sure, Ford's Escape Hybrid and its twin Mercury Mariner Hybrid fit the bill, as do the new Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu (hybrid or not), and the Saturn Vue Hybrid. I'm sure the Lexus and Lincoln crowd in Congress will love that.
Aargh!
Washington, DC photo by Jake McGuriel, Jetta photo courtesy VW
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