California lawmakers may keep their vehicles

There’s a little known perk in California law, that allows lawmakers to drive expensive cars, all paid for by taxpayers. the state purchases these cars for the lawmakers to drive around in their districts, under a decades old program, spending more than $5 million for all of these vehicles, which includes a $55,000 Cadillac sedan and a $52,000 Lexus hybrid. All of this is taking place as the state is going broke. And yet next week Gov Schwarzenegger has called legislators into a special session next week to address a $6 billion deficit. Oh but the story gets better. Lawmakers have already cut benefits to programs such as adult dental care, and health care programs for children from low-income families, and more cuts are likely on the way.

Note – California is the only state in the union to provide vehicles to its rank-and-file lawmakers for unlimited use. Meanwhile, the AP asked for all information and the cost to the taxpayers, and they received it upon request. The Senate said it planned on reviewing the program, as is tries to cut costs.

The compensation and benefits that California lawmakers enjoy has come under fire this past year. Legislators fought a plan to cut their pay by 18%, in 2009 while other state employees were enduring three-day-a-month furloughs.

“It just says, ’What’s ours is ours; the rules don’t apply to us,”’ said Charles Murray, chairman of the California Citizens Compensation Commission, an independent body that sets the compensation for lawmakers and constitutional officers. “I think in tough economic times, all these little sweetheart deals, all these perks, start to come to the surface and people start to ask questions.”

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The legislator’s vehickle program goes back to the 1950s when lawmakers decided it was cheaper to buy cars and gasoline than to be reimbursed by the mile. Instead of having these cars it would be much cheaper reimbursing the lawmakers at the Internal Revenue Service’s standard business rate of 50 cents per mile, would likely be more expensive, Barankin said. Hmm, everyone else has to pay for their own fuel going to work, why shouldn’t they? The excuse to keep with the current plan is that the state sells the used vehicles after lawmakers are done with them, he said.

But at this reimbursement rate of 50 cents per mile, lawmakers would have to drive a collective 10 million miles to reach the $5 million taken from the general fund to buy the vehicles — equal to more than 3,000 cross-country trips. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton, a Republican from Rancho Cucamonga, believes the current system is cheaper than reimbursing legislators for each mile they drive, but also said the program should be re-evaluated as lawmakers look for areas to cut costs..

Taxpayers spent $3.5 million to buy the 99 vehicles lawmakers use when they visit their home districts. And still the 81 member Assembly spent another $1.4 million to buy 49 Toyota Camry Hybrids for 51 lawmakers who live far from the state capital and use the vehicles when they are in Sacramento. The Senate, which has 40 members, spends an additional $81,000 a year to lease 25 vehicles for senators’ use in Sacramento. On average, the state has spent $35,250 on all the vehicles the lawmakers use in their districts.

The amount lawmakers contribute varies greatly, depending on the cost of the vehicle they choose. Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, D-San Diego, contributes $31.02 a month toward her 2005 Honda Accord hybrid, while Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Yuba City, pays the most, $397.10, toward his 2009 Ford Edge. Dutton pays $38.79 a month for his Tahoe.

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With the reductions approved last year, the maximum amount the state will contribute toward a lawmaker’s vehicle was reduced from $350 to $287 in the Senate and from $400 to $328 in the Assembly, and in June it was decided not to make any further cuts for lawmakers or statewide officials. And do you know who has the most expensive vehicles? Two Southern California Democrats. Sen. Ron Calderon of Monterey Park drives a $54,830 2006 Cadillac STS while Sen. Gil Cedillo of Los Angeles uses a $52,235 2007 Lexus LX 400H hybrid.

Because the state’s monthly payments are capped, Calderon, Cedillo and other lawmakers who choose expensive cars pay the difference out of their pockets. But still, it’s the idea the taxpayers are stuck footing most of the bill.

Most states reimburse lawmakers’ mileage for official business. Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania allow their state lawmakers to check out motor pool vehicles for official trips, while Florida and Minnesota let them use rental cars. New York and the New Jersey Assembly (but not its Senate) provide vehicles only for their top leadership.

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