Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:01 PM
Segami (5,743 posts)
SEVEN TEA PARTY Freshmen SPENT More Than $100,000 In TAXPAYER MONEY On Personal Cars
TEA-BAG HYPOCRITTERS: " Though they campaigned on a platform of reducing the deficit and ridding wasteful spending, more than a half-dozen Tea Party congressmen have collectively spent over $100,000 in taxpayer money on personal vehicles. ThinkProgress examined spending records for the 112th Congress and found seven GOP freshmen — Reps. Chip Cravaack (R-MN), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Bill Flores (R-TX), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), and Steve Womack (R-AR) — who had spent an average of $15,000 on cars for themselves. All together, their taxpayer bill totaled $106,643. There is nothing illegal about the practice of using taxpayer money to lease personal-use cars, but it smacks of hypocrisy for Tea Partiers like Duffy who promised to “lead by example” when it comes to deficit reduction. Many of the vehicles go beyond a standard sedan. For example, Cravaack is charging taxpayers more than $1,000 a month to pay the lease on his 2011 Chevy Equinox, a crossover SUV with all-wheel drive. Here’s what the seven Republican freshmen’s congressional offices have spent on cars in the past year and a half: Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN): $25,580.84 Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI): $24,525.00 Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX): $10,997.45 Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO): $20,978.07 Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH): $4,889.76 Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS): $8,848.00 Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR): $10,746.59 Total: $106,643 http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/07/16/511807/tea-party-car-leases/ .
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81 replies, 7652 views
 81 replies |
Author | Time | Post |
 SEVEN TEA PARTY Freshmen SPENT More Than $100,000 In TAXPAYER MONEY On Personal Cars (Original post) |
Segami | Jul 2012 | OP |
| patrice | Jul 2012 | #1 | |
| patrice | Jul 2012 | #2 | |
| onehandle | Jul 2012 | #3 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #4 | |
| louis-t | Jul 2012 | #6 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #24 | |
| Comrade_McKenzie | Jul 2012 | #48 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #53 | |
| The Doctor. | Jul 2012 | #66 | |
| JDPriestly | Jul 2012 | #61 | |
| jberryhill | Jul 2012 | #27 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #28 | |
| nikto | Jul 2012 | #58 | |
| Hassin Bin Sober | Jul 2012 | #31 | |
| JDPriestly | Jul 2012 | #65 | |
| Politicalboi | Jul 2012 | #76 | |
| nadinbrzezinski | Jul 2012 | #45 | |
| Tsiyu | Jul 2012 | #13 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #26 | |
| Blanks | Jul 2012 | #29 | |
| Tsiyu | Jul 2012 | #47 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #49 | |
| Tsiyu | Jul 2012 | #50 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #52 | |
| Tsiyu | Jul 2012 | #56 | |
| Doremus | Jul 2012 | #69 | |
| Politicalboi | Jul 2012 | #77 | |
| Angry Dragon | Jul 2012 | #23 | |
| hughee99 | Jul 2012 | #34 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #37 | |
| nikto | Jul 2012 | #59 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #73 | |
| karynnj | Jul 2012 | #35 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #36 | |
| Chan790 | Jul 2012 | #42 | |
| Segami | Jul 2012 | #44 | |
| Xyzse | Jul 2012 | #54 | |
| HopeHoops | Jul 2012 | #5 | |
| Zalatix | Jul 2012 | #7 | |
| HopeHoops | Jul 2012 | #11 | |
| Zalatix | Jul 2012 | #12 | |
| GoCubsGo | Jul 2012 | #22 | |
| Guy Whitey Corngood | Jul 2012 | #8 | |
| Segami | Jul 2012 | #9 | |
| Angry Dragon | Jul 2012 | #25 | |
| proud2BlibKansan | Jul 2012 | #10 | |
| Zalatix | Jul 2012 | #14 | |
| proud2BlibKansan | Jul 2012 | #20 | |
| demtenjeep | Jul 2012 | #18 | |
| proud2BlibKansan | Jul 2012 | #21 | |
| Panasonic | Jul 2012 | #15 | |
| madamesilverspurs | Jul 2012 | #74 | |
| Proud Liberal Dem | Jul 2012 | #16 | |
| BlancheSplanchnik | Jul 2012 | #17 | |
| ejbr | Jul 2012 | #19 | |
| Kalidurga | Jul 2012 | #30 | |
| shraby | Jul 2012 | #32 | |
| nxylas | Jul 2012 | #33 | |
| proReality | Jul 2012 | #38 | |
| obamanut2012 | Jul 2012 | #39 | |
| progressoid | Jul 2012 | #40 | |
| KansDem | Jul 2012 | #41 | |
| Initech | Jul 2012 | #43 | |
| nadinbrzezinski | Jul 2012 | #46 | |
| SheilaT | Jul 2012 | #51 | |
| SickOfTheOnePct | Jul 2012 | #78 | |
| SheilaT | Jul 2012 | #81 | |
| notadmblnd | Jul 2012 | #55 | |
| nikto | Jul 2012 | #57 | |
| VenusRising | Jul 2012 | #60 | |
| Tx4obama | Jul 2012 | #62 | |
| yortsed snacilbuper | Jul 2012 | #75 | |
| Tx4obama | Jul 2012 | #63 | |
| Blue Owl | Jul 2012 | #64 | |
| Segami | Jul 2012 | #67 | |
| Rosa Luxemburg | Jul 2012 | #68 | |
| Thor_MN | Jul 2012 | #70 | |
| crazy homeless guy | Jul 2012 | #71 | |
| uncle ray | Jul 2012 | #72 | |
| Tx4obama | Jul 2012 | #79 | |
| yortsed snacilbuper | Jul 2012 | #80 |
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:06 PM
patrice (47,311 posts)
2. Pompous Pompeo apparently not above SOCIALISM for Koch-bots. nt
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:10 PM
onehandle (35,378 posts)
3. Jus' reg'lar folk. nt
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:19 PM
Xyzse (2,083 posts)
4. Even if I don't like them
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Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:22 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1) |
Response to Xyzse (Reply #24)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 04:03 PM
Comrade_McKenzie (2,526 posts)
48. The issue is exposing hypocrisy, though.
Response to Xyzse (Reply #24)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 06:58 PM
JDPriestly (37,727 posts)
61. Congressmembers receive a salary. They should buy their cars out of their salaries like other
Response to louis-t (Reply #6)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:36 PM
27. Yeah... like owning a car in Colorado is a lot of help in DC
Response to jberryhill (Reply #27)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:49 PM
Hassin Bin Sober (8,609 posts)
31. $174k per year can buy a lot of train and bus passes. And the occasional cab ride.
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Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2012, 02:24 PM USA/ET - Edit history (3) |
Response to jberryhill (Reply #27)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 07:12 PM
JDPriestly (37,727 posts)
65. Compared to other Americans, members of Congress earn a good salary.
Response to Xyzse (Reply #4)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:02 PM
13. Yet they wail over someone getting the maximum $2400/ yr in Food Stamps
Response to Tsiyu (Reply #13)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:28 PM
Xyzse (2,083 posts)
26. I'm not saying that it isn't hypocritical
Response to Xyzse (Reply #26)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 04:00 PM
47. If you ran on a platform slick with the froth
Response to Xyzse (Reply #49)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 04:05 PM
50. Aha. The "Everyone Else Does It" Defense
Response to Xyzse (Reply #52)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 11:56 PM
Doremus (5,136 posts)
69. Did they ask people to vote for them to uphold status quo ... or to change status quo?
Response to Xyzse (Reply #4)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:24 PM
23. Why should the taxpayers pay for their personal use??
Response to Xyzse (Reply #4)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:55 PM
34. While you can argue there's some hypocricy in it
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I don't think this story is going to have any legs for exactly this reason.
Why not just demand they forgo all pay and have no staff too, since that's also spending taxpayer money. They should work in an office with no electricity, no equipment and no staff or they're just a bunch of god-damn hypocrites who promised not to spend taxpayer money if they got elected and then immediately came to Washington expecting the taxpayer to pay for all this shit.  |
Response to Xyzse (Reply #37)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 06:13 PM
59. You said, "I'd rather focus my energies elsewhere..."
Response to Xyzse (Reply #4)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:56 PM
karynnj (46,669 posts)
35. I think some parts of your comments go too far
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Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2012, 02:03 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1) |
Response to karynnj (Reply #35)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:14 PM
42. "the cost of living in DC is very high"
Response to Chan790 (Reply #42)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:28 PM
Segami (5,743 posts)
44. And a couple of congressmen are MILLIONAIRES
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:30 PM
HopeHoops (47,675 posts)
5. While it is hypocritical, even the top two aren't that expensive, and $5K is damn cheap.
Response to Zalatix (Reply #7)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:22 PM
GoCubsGo (12,988 posts)
22. I would be happy if they would swap me for the rest of their terms.
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Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:23 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1) |
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:54 PM
Guy Whitey Corngood (14,838 posts)
8. Let's say for argument's sake this isn't a big deal. The way repukes win is
Response to Guy Whitey Corngood (Reply #8)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:55 PM
Segami (5,743 posts)
9. Bingo! and thank you!
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You are bang on!
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Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 12:58 PM
proud2BlibKansan (96,371 posts)
10. Pompeo is a racist
Response to proud2BlibKansan (Reply #10)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:12 PM
18. he "walked" in my hometown parade on the 4th of July. He came over and was shaking hands
Response to demtenjeep (Reply #18)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:21 PM
proud2BlibKansan (96,371 posts)
21. He's definitely the worst of the 4 reps from Kansas
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:07 PM
Panasonic (2,921 posts)
15. Okay - once Schaffer gets a hold of this information
Response to Panasonic (Reply #15)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 10:28 AM
madamesilverspurs (6,755 posts)
74. Gardner is my alleged rep.
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:09 PM
16. In all fairness to Duffy
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he and his family ARE having a difficult time living on $174K/year!
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Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:10 PM
BlancheSplanchnik (7,705 posts)
17. HUGE Kick and REC!!!!!!!
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:15 PM
ejbr (3,953 posts)
19. Not only THAT....Duffy is leasing
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:51 PM
shraby (15,453 posts)
32. That's twice what we paid for our car..whassamatter with them using public transportation??
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:54 PM
nxylas (4,697 posts)
33. This is perfectly in line with Tea Party principles
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 02:49 PM
38. I guess they believe in "entitlements" after all. n/t
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 02:57 PM
obamanut2012 (9,971 posts)
39. Still cannot believe someone from Real World is a Congressman
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:04 PM
progressoid (27,282 posts)
40. And two of them are MILLIONAIRES
Response to progressoid (Reply #40)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:06 PM
KansDem (24,317 posts)
41. This alone should be enough to put the Teapublicans out of business!
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What hypocrites!
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Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:20 PM
43. Wasteful government spending!!!!!!1!!! And such.
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Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:33 PM
46. If you are from Maryland I can see commuting to the House
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 04:27 PM
SheilaT (12,442 posts)
51. The DC area has amazing public transportation.
Response to SheilaT (Reply #51)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 07:36 PM
SickOfTheOnePct (1,796 posts)
78. DC has amazing public transportation
Response to SickOfTheOnePct (Reply #78)
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:37 AM
SheilaT (12,442 posts)
81. Yes, it does depend on where you live and where you work, but members of Congress are more apt
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 04:50 PM
notadmblnd (17,098 posts)
55. don't they get paid enough to purchase their own cars?
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 06:07 PM
57. Some pigs are more equal than others...
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 06:22 PM
60. So Teabaggers are "taxed enough already"...
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 07:00 PM
Tx4obama (28,781 posts)
62. INFOGRAPHIC below
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Response to Tx4obama (Reply #62)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 07:07 PM
yortsed snacilbuper (1,017 posts)
75. Cool pornographic,
Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 07:03 PM
Tx4obama (28,781 posts)
63. Did they forget that they have to run every two years for re-election?
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Dumb asses! This will be great in Democratic ads in those states 
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Response to Segami (Original post)
Mon Jul 16, 2012, 08:32 PM
Rosa Luxemburg (21,986 posts)
68. I want a TAX REFUND!
Response to Segami (Original post)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 12:23 AM
70. Cravaack doesn't even live in Minnesota any more.
Response to Segami (Original post)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:56 AM
71. $15k per car? ...I hate to say it but more gov't ass clowns should limit their spending on transpor
Response to crazy homeless guy (Reply #71)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:01 AM
72. that is one year's cost to taxpayers of having the car, not a purchase price.
Response to crazy homeless guy (Reply #71)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 07:44 PM
Tx4obama (28,781 posts)
79. The amounts are how much was spent in one year to LEASE the cars. n/t
Response to Segami (Original post)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 08:38 PM
yortsed snacilbuper (1,017 posts)
80. Didn't these yahoos take some kind of teabagger oath not to waste,
