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PermalinkFriday, April 15, 2011
California — No more state-owned cars for California lawmakers. On Thursday, the California Citizens Compensation Commission scrapped a program that allows lawmakers to choose their own vehicles.
Under the current system, the state buys those cars, and then leases them back to lawmakers at a discount. Taxpayers cover insurance, gas and maintenance, at an average cost of $7,500 per lawmaker per year. Beginning in December, lawmakers will instead receive a $300 car allowance each month.
John Vigna, from the office of Assembly Speaker John Perez says the speaker understands the state is short on money, but thinks the commission went a bit too far.
“It’s unfortunate that the commission has decided to punish legislators, but that’s their prerogative,” said Vigna. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s not going to impact the job that we do.”
The Speaker is also concerned about lawmakers with sprawling, rural districts who have to drive long distances to meet with constituents.
Comments
brixsy | April 16, 2011 at 3:50 p.m. ― 2 years, 1 month ago
As long as they get there, that should be all that matters. Why should they have their motor vehicles subsidized? They can pay it out of their salary like everyone else.
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Missionaccomplished | April 17, 2011 at 2:56 p.m. ― 2 years, 1 month ago
Maybe it's because Mary Salas banged up her car three times to the tune of $28,000 and then billed the state.
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HarryStreet | April 19, 2011 at 2:55 p.m. ― 2 years ago
It is very sad it took the worse recession since the Great Depression to bring to light the perks our lawmakers receive. Is there a reason they can't travel to and from work in their own car, on their own dime same as the rest of the working men and women in California?
They get a guaranteed paycheck and benefits far better than the private sector already. Why do people in government feel the taxpayer needs to fork over money enough to supply them with these perks?
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albullen | April 19, 2011 at 11:01 p.m. ― 2 years ago
So basically the way it used to work was: lawmakers said every Californian should pay for insurance on their vehicles... and theirs also. nice
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