California Panel Slashes Funds For Legislator Vehicles

April 14, 2011 12:51 PM

The California Capitol in Sacramento (File Photo)

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BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — A state panel has slashed the amount of money California taxpayers will spend to keep legislators on the road.

California has long provided state-paid cars, insurance, repairs and gas for legislators who want them, a cost that according to one estimate averages about $7,500 a year for members of the Senate and Assembly.

But the Citizens Compensation Commission voted Thursday to replace the generous program with a flat, $300 a month payment to legislators, or $3,600 a year.

As of December, they would return their state-provided cars and begin using their personal vehicles to get around their districts.

By one estimate, the change will save the cash-strapped state roughly $2 million over five years.

California Panel Slashes Funds For Legislator Vehicles

Nailbender

It’s about time!!! No more free rides. I can hear the CRYING already!!
http://whyvillepop.wordpress.com alexispee1

big deal
Mindy

They should get money for gas mileage for driving around their district only! They should drive responsibly or retake their driver licence test. Taxpayers don’t want to pay for their tickets or car repairs. It is RIDICULOUS!
M. Garn

What a joke. Two million dollars is less than Darrell Steinberg’s staff payroll for 7 months. Look what a great job the Senate Pro Tem, staff and consultants have done balancing the budget.
play13

Well its a start….now lets get them to pay into their retirement and medical benefits like everybody else. The free ride has come to an end…time to pay your dues like every other hard working Californian in the private and public sector…hahaha!
Michael Walters

Every one of them has forgotten that they are public servants, emphasis on servants. They are not there for THEIR interests or how much money they can make, they are they for US, which stands for the U.S. Everyone else pays their own way to work. If these law makers were more in touch with how much gas is, and it affected them more, you can bet they’d do something about it. If any of you are not happy about the cuts, find another job. I only want people who are there for us.

derF

Oh, you are so deluded. Don’t you know that tax payers are there just for that purpose – to pay taxes so the elite politicos can undertake their brilliant strategies of social engineering (like for example the renewable energy bill the legislature recently passed and JB just signed). Come, get with it. We’re just cattle to be herded by our masters.

Debra in Sacramento

A penny saved is a penny earned and it’s about damn time they started using their own vehicles.
John

So what!?!?! Knowing these snakes as well as I do, I am sure they already found a loophole to get those funds in some other way! WANNA MAKE A BET!?!?!?!?
smith

OMG! You mean some one finally got the BALLS to address this… and tell those monkey’s in SAC no more free stuff GREAT. Now put that money to our schools or other social service program that will HELP our citizens.
birdbrain2

Guaranteed these bums he do not do there jobs that the taxpayers have put them in there to do will find a loophole somewhere. Hopefully they will get caught up with and be fired. You better believe they should be fired. Where else can you work , never do your job and continue being paid? Politicians be prepared to be fired and get this right we taxpayer voters can and will do it. Well maqybe someone out there somewhere has the cajonies to vote them out just maybe please.
jj

GOOD!!!!!!!!
Mindy

Because of them, California is in bankrupt! The way they drive reflect their work ethic!!!
dante of dar

WackyHow to Erase Budget Debt

This is how to solve the problem without too much violence. Recall all state and national politicians and give their positions to immigrant workers who will be a lot cheaper and probably do a much better job due to their higher ethical standards. Then give the politicians a choice of either working the jobs of the immigrants who replaced them or have them compete against each other in pay for view topless wrestling matches. This will accomplish the dual benefit of providing great entertainment while at the same time creating a fortune in sales thus stimulating the economy and eliminating the national debt. Now that would be a revolution worth watching!

Fred

Illegal aliens with ethical standards? Hmmmm……

And here I though Prop 19 failed.

Debbie

This is a good start. Now get rid of per diem!!!! If they live outside of district, why are they there anyway. Also half the pension,staff and pay for their own healthcare. Common CCB lets make some real cuts in Sacramento!