Legislature spends $529,000 on new cars

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Last year, when the state was gripped by a budget crisis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered hundreds of state cars to be sold to save money.

But that didn’t stop the Legislature from spending $529,000 to buy a new fleet of 2009 model cars for 16 lawmakers, according to documents released Tuesday.

The Legislature, which is still grappling with a budget shortfall, has also purchased two 2010 model cars for a total of $72,000, according to the documents, which detail the millions of dollars spent to provide state legislators with cars, gas and living expenses each year.

The state’s Citizens Compensation Commission sought the reports as it considers at its meeting next week whether to cut lawmakers’ pay and benefits by 10%.

That the Legislature was buying new cars even while it was cutting services and raising taxes irks Kris Vosburgh, executive director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.

‘At a time when people are losing their homes because of the poor economy, it looks pretty arrogant for legislators to buy any new cars,’ Vosburgh said.

The Assembly buys the vehicles and then leases them to members at taxpayer-subsidized rates. For instance, the Assembly bought a 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited for Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) for $48,142. The state is then paid $287 of the lease from Nava’s office budget, and Nava pays $230 out of pocket. On the Senate side, vehicles purchased for the lawmakers included a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado bought for Sen. Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) for $38,566.

Jon Waldie, the chief administrative officer of the Assembly said the lawmakers are eligible to be provided with a state car and have the option of using one given up by a former member or having a new vehicle purchased.

‘If they want a hybrid and we don’t have one, they are eligible’ to have a new hybrid purchased for them, he said, noting the cars remain the property of the state.

-- Patrick McGreevy