Driven to distraction

Re “$3.2 million for legislators’ cars,” June 16

I think a state-provided vehicle is a reasonable allowance that can help a legislator do his or her job effectively.

But, as a California taxpayer, I do not like paying for luxury vehicles when basic transportation will do. Particularly galling is Sen. Ron Calderon’s (D-Montebello) decision to bill us nearly $40,000 for a Cadillac.

Calderon’s comment in your story is both evasive and unctuous: “If there is a decision to disallow the use of vehicles in the district, I would happily surrender the vehicle I now drive in commonality with the sacrifices others are making in these difficult economic times.”

Please. If Calderon is that concerned, then why is he charging us, even partly, for a car that is apparently more expensive than any other vehicle chosen by any other legislator?

Tom Henson

Irvine

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So California has the highest-paid and, to me, lowest-performing state legislators.

Do we really need these full-time, perk-expecting lawmakers? Perhaps Fiat can take over our state government.

Vickie Hamilton

Huntington Beach

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It is unconscionable for legislators to drive state-owned cars when we are all faced with rising taxes.

This is obviously a benefit they voted for themselves.

Although Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) states he chooses to use his personal car, his wife, Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, has a state car.

Jere Robings

Thousand Oaks