As the U.S. House last week approved a funding bill for the operations of the Legislative Branch 2015, lawmakers voted to freeze the House budget and to again block any pay raise for members, but they refused to take another step on the budget, rejecting a plan to stop members from using some of their office account money to lease automobiles.
"Today, members of Congress can lease Lexuses, BMW's, Infinitis, Acuras, Mercedes," groused Rep. Richard Nugent (R-FL), who pressed the case for banning car leases.
"Having a personal car - basically paid for by the taxpayers - should no longer be allowed," Nugent argued in vain on the floor, as the House rejected his amendment on a vote of 221-196.
In expense records filed by members of the U.S. House, the number of lawmakers spending their office account money to lease a vehicle has declined slightly in recent years - there are 63 members right now using taxpayer money for a vehicle lease.
The numbers from the House Statement of Disbursements show this:
+ 63 House members are spending $38,444.20 per month on auto leases, which totals out to $461,330.40 per year - that is an average of $610.23 per month per lawmaker lease.
+ 38 Democrats are using official office account money to lease a vehicle, spending an average of $600.18 per month.
+ 25 Republicans are using official office account money to lease a vehicle, spending an average of $625.39 per month.
+ The most money is being spent for auto leases each month is by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) at $1,318.97 for two leases; one is for $333.33, and the other is for $985.64.
Neugebauer defended the leases in an interview with KFYO Radio in Texas, saying that his staff uses the vehicles to get around his district.
"It is more cost effective, when we ran the numbers, for us to lease the vehicles than to reimburse for mileage," Neugebauer said, adding that his $985.64 lease is for a hybrid Chevy Tahoe.
Not all of the leases are for cars for personal use - like the $800 per month for a "Mobile Constituent Service Center" spent by Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI), which his spokesman says is a trailer used for district work, not an automobile for personal use.
+ The ten most expensive auto leases are split evenly by party, with five Democrats and five Republicans in the Top Ten.
Here are the 63 members who are leasing a vehicle with money from their office accounts; the amount is the per month cost of the vehicle lease(s):
Only House members can use their official funds to lease vehicles; the Senate got rid of that option in recent years.
Under House rules, it is okay to lease a vehicle with money raised in campaign contributions, instead of official office funds.
"It is permissible for a Member to lease or purchase a motor vehicle with campaign funds and to use that vehicle on an unlimited basis for travel for both campaign and official House purposes," the Ethics Committee guidance states.
"Campaign funds may also be used to pay the expenses incurred in operating the vehicle, such as insurance, maintenance and repair, registration fees, and any property tax," it adds.
The current roster of lawmakers leasing vehicles includes people from rural districts and big cities; there are members of leadership teams in both parties, veteran lawmakers, fairly new members, liberals and conservatives.
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