Is Feinstein a Back-Seat Driver on Perks?

Next to crime, health care and welfare reform, the parking privileges enjoyed by members of Congress hardly rank among the weightier issues in Washington.

But you would never know it judging from the flak Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) catches every time he tries to shut down the free parking lots reserved for lawmakers, diplomats and Supreme Court justices at nearby National and Dulles airports.

“If I had advocated a declaration of World War III, I believe it would have probably evoked less emotion in my colleagues,” McCain cracked in April after the Senate rejected an amendment that merely suggested--but did not require--eliminating the perk.

The 44-53 margin of defeat was closer than usual because 21 of the 25 senators who are up for reelection this year voted for it. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who faces a strong challenge from multimillionaire Republican Rep. Michael Huffington, co-sponsored the bill and called attention to it in a press release.

Feinstein scolded her colleagues in a Senate floor speech for putting themselves above normal working stiffs. She said that “for men and women anywhere else, if work or some other task keeps them late, they do not have the option of zipping into their free parking spot at the movie theater or at the grocery store or at the ballpark.”

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Attacking the airport parking perk came at no personal inconvenience to Feinstein--she never uses the special lots anyway. Like many members of Congress, Feinstein is driven to the airport and back by an aide on her Senate staff whenever she flies in or out of Washington.

On a typical workday, Feinstein is met early in the morning at her downtown Washington townhouse by a member of her Senate staff and driven to work in her personal car--a Navy blue Buick Park Avenue sedan. She also uses the staffer to transport her to meetings and appearances off Capitol Hill and to take her home at night.

Feinstein reacted angrily when she was asked about the driving arrangement during an interview in her Senate office this week. “This has nothing to do with a parking lot!” she said. Asked about the appearance of hypocrisy by a legislator who employs a driver taking credit for trying to eliminate free parking perks, Feinstein erupted: “Oh bull--------! Bull--------!”

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Members of Congress have grown sensitive to the issue of personal transportation and government perks. California’s other U.S. senator, Barbara Boxer, was blistered by Republican Bruce Herschensohn in a television ad during the 1992 campaign for routinely billing taxpayers for “limousine service” to the airport. The use of a chauffeur, Herschensohn argued, was just one example of Boxer’s abuse of taxpayer-financed benefits.

Boxer was further embarrassed when The Times reported that she sometimes arranged for rides to the airport in official U.S. government vehicles with flashing red lights at high speeds.

Today, Boxer is usually dropped off and picked up at the airport by a staffer or a family member, said spokeswoman Linda Marson. She added that Boxer walks to work from her Capitol Hill apartment and prefers to drive herself to events in Washington, although she is often taken by a staffer.

Senate rules do not prohibit using staff members to drive lawmakers to and from work or appointments. Indeed, many senators rely on their aides to shuttle them to events throughout the day, although fewer are picked up at their residences.

“Anybody, if they choose to do so, can get a member of their staff to drive with them,” Feinstein said. “It happens all the time around here.”

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During an interview this week, Feinstein initially said that no taxpayer money was spent on driving services for her. “No, I pay that,” she said.

Later she said the amount she pays “is not meant to recompense (the driver) fully. It is meant to be a little extra.” She described the amount she pays as a “nice thing to do.”

She could not recall the specific amount, but an aide the next day said she paid $2,000 per year. The driver receives a $20,000 government salary for chauffeuring and other responsibilities in Feinstein’s office.

On Thursday, Feinstein campaign manager Kam Kuwata clarified further. He said Feinstein’s payment to the driver covers all trips deemed to be personal, including those to and from her home each day and some trips to the airport. He acknowledged that the accounting was informal.

Feinstein argued that members of Congress are entitled to have drivers on the government payroll for security purposes and because they are busy working on the cellular phone and studying legislation.

“If you ask me, you ought to be able to use a staff person to drive you and not have to recompense them,” Feinstein said. “That is a legitimate job that can come with government.”