The Detroit Free Press reports that annually, the public is bilked out of millions of dollars paying for vehicles used by their elected officials.
“[MI State Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick] has a Cadillac because it’s an American-made product that is made and manufactured in her district,” Walker said . . . Critics agree that the practice can be a good deal for taxpayers when members lease efficient, inexpensive cars, especially in sprawling districts where they drive lots of miles.”
To point out the obvious, again, the Cadillac DeVille can hardly be considered a cost-effective alternative to any number of other American made vehicles on the market these day.
I drive a Jeep Liberty, which I’m currently leasing, with no money down, for about $250 a month. With money that I earn. At my job. Where I work. If public officials drove Jeep Liberties, or Pontiac G6s instead of Navigators and DeVilles, it would represent a savings of $7000 annually to the taxpayers of Detroit (and that’s just on Mrs Kilpatrick’s car).
That’s not even taking into consideration her son, Kwame Kilpatric (D, Mayor, Detroit) who held a 2 year lease on a Lincoln Navigator to the tune of $24,995.
Now, understandably, public servants need cars to get to and from work. But so do I. So does the garbage man, and the Wal-Mart employee. Elected officials are not exempt from income – most of them earn far more than the average private-sector employee. If public servants were held to the same standards – paying for their own vehicles (gasp!) the electorate could spend that money on even more frivolous items!
Or, you know, they could like, lower our taxes.
and monkeys might fly out of my butt
[...] jurisdiction is beyond me. I’m afraid this is simply par-for-the course, like his infamous $25,000, 12-month lease paid for by the City. For his wife. Or some of his numerous other expenses. For [...]