Seven Tea Party Freshmen Spent More Than $100,000 In Taxpayer Money On Personal Cars

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Though they campaigned on a platform of reducing the deficit and ridding wasteful spending, more than a half-dozen Tea Party congressmen have collectively spent over $100,000 in taxpayer money on personal vehicles. ThinkProgress examined spending records for the 112th Congress and found seven GOP freshmen — Reps. Chip Cravaack (R-MN), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Bill Flores (R-TX), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), and Steve Womack (R-AR) — who had spent an average of $15,000 on cars for themselves. All together, their taxpayer bill totaled $106,643.

There is nothing illegal about the practice of using taxpayer money to lease personal-use cars, but it smacks of hypocrisy for Tea Partiers like Duffy who promised to "lead by example" when it comes to deficit reduction.

Many of the vehicles go beyond a standard sedan. For example, Cravaack is charging taxpayers more than $1,000 a month to pay the lease on his 2011 Chevy Equinox, a crossover SUV with all-wheel drive.

Here's what the seven Republican freshmen's congressional offices have spent on cars in the past year and a half:

• Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN)
  : $25,580.84
• Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI)
  : $24,525.00
• Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX)
  : $10,997.45
• Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
  : $20,978.07
• Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)
  : $4,889.76
• Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
  : $8,848.00
• Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR)
  : $10,746.59
• Total
  : $106,643

http://thinkprogress...rty-car-leases/

[Ban Hammer 13,724]

Many of the vehicles go beyond a standard sedan. For example, Cravaack is charging taxpayers more than $1,000 a month to pay the lease on his 2011 Chevy Equinox, a crossover SUV with all-wheel drive.

Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN): $25,580.84

he can dang near buy one for that price.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-01-29/wall_street/30073520_1_air-force-jets-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-receipt

Nancy Pelosi's In-Flight Food And Drink Costs? $101,000

Paid your taxes on time? Good, 'cause Nancy Pelosi needs to pay her tab.

Documents uncovered via a FOIA request show that Pelosi racked up over $101,000 of taxpayer dollars for "in-flight services."

And by "services," she clearly meant alcohol. Look at all the booze on this receipt pictured right!

WND: But that single receipt makes up just part of the more than $101,000 taxpayers paid for "in-flight services" – including food and liquor, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trips on Air Force jets over the last two years. That's almost $1,000 per week.

Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Judicial Watch, which investigates and prosecutes government corruption, show Pelosi incurred expenses of some $2.1 million for her use of Air Force jets for travel over that time.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

How much did Obama pay for those two buses he bought from Canada with US Taxpayer money?

The $1.1 million (yep, you read that right) Obamamobile is, according to the Associated Press, “an impenetrable-looking conveyance the size of a cross-country Greyhound, painted all in black, with dark tinted windows and flashing red and blue lights.” The rubber is hitting the road for the president’s current trip to Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois.

Edited July 16, 2012 by ☼

[kytwell 179]

Do as I say, not as I do.

From 1789 to 1855, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session, except for a period from December 1815 to March 1817, when they received $1,500 a year. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1855, when they were paid $3,000 per year.

The current salary (2011-2012) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.

______________________________________________________________________________________

I don't understand why we're paying for any congress person's vehicles. I don't understand how a 6 figure salary and health insurance isn't more than enough. Maybe if Obama had some testicular fortitude he would get rid of all this ####### and use the left over to pay for his healthcare bill. I would respect that.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

congress should be paid mimimum wage.

[JohnR! 5,495]

http://thinkprogress...rty-car-leases/

Quote

Though they campaigned on a platform of reducing the deficit and ridding wasteful spending, more than a half-dozen Tea Party congressmen have collectively spent over $100,000 in taxpayer money on personal vehicles. ThinkProgress examined spending records for the 112th Congress and found seven GOP freshmen — Reps. Chip Cravaack (R-MN), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Bill Flores (R-TX), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), and Steve Womack (R-AR) — who had spent an average of $15,000 on cars for themselves. All together, their taxpayer bill totaled $106,643.

There is nothing illegal about the practice of using taxpayer money to lease personal-use cars, but it smacks of hypocrisy for Tea Partiers like Duffy who promised to "

lead by example

" when it comes to deficit reduction.

Many of the vehicles go beyond a standard sedan. For example, Cravaack is charging taxpayers more than $1,000 a month to pay the lease on his 2011

Chevy Equinox,

a crossover SUV with all-wheel drive.

Here's what the seven Republican freshmen's congressional offices have spent on cars in the past year and a half:

• Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN)
  : $25,580.84
• Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI)
  : $24,525.00
• Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX)
  : $10,997.45
• Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
  : $20,978.07
• Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)
  : $4,889.76
• Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
  : $8,848.00
• Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR)
  : $10,746.59
• Total
  : $106,643

Are you surprised? They reduced their wasteful spending by using taxpayers' money to pay for those wasteful things...

[mawilson 2,133]

congress should be paid mimimum wage.

Great idea. Because they don't steal enough already - let's give them some incentive.