Reps. Melvin Watt (D), Sue Myrick (R), and Mike McIntyre (D) do love their cars. Or maybe they love your cars that they drive:
The three are among 136 U.S. House members who spent about $1.05 million last year in taxpayer dollars to lease vehicles, including dozens of gas-guzzling SUVs and expensive luxury cars, according to an analysis by the Kansas City Star. Gas and insurance, also paid for by taxpayers, cost hundreds of thousands more.
Myrick does appear to be one of the few Members trying to stay on a budget:
For example, Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., leased a Honda Accord that costs less than $215 a month — and got good mileage to boot.
“She wanted something responsible with the taxpayers’ dollars,” said Andy Polk, Myrick’s spokesman. “It’s appropriate, and it gets the job done.”
Not so McIntyre, of Lumberton, who runs a small fleet of taxpayer-mobiles: a Chevrolet Trailblazer, a Pontiac Grand Prix, and a Pontiac Bonneville for an annual leasing price tag of $13,130.40. It is still mystery what Mel Watt is spending $9,567 a year on, but at that price-point something large and luxury seems almost certain.
The real head-turner though is Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) who evidently spent $11,070.60 leasing a Ford Escape. That seems pretty high for a car you can buy for around $25K.
