Washington Free Beacon: Democrats in Congress Drive Luxury Cars on Taxpayer Dime
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D., Texas) declared in February that the government is “not in the business of giving out money” to taxpayers. But when it comes to the simple luxuries in her own life, the firebrand lawmaker is happy to let the public foot the bill.
That includes her taxpayer-funded car. Crockett has billed the public $999.96 every month since she assumed office in January 2023 to pay for a “vehicle lease,” according to House disbursement records reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon. It’s unclear the make and model of Crockett’s publicly financed whip—lawmakers are not required to disclose that information and her office did not return a request for comment—but it’s enough to pay for a Tesla Model S, Elon Musk’s luxury sports sedan, which leases for $998 per month.
Crockett obtained her taxpayer-funded vehicle through a little-known fringe benefit that allows representatives to bill the public for a fresh set of EPA-approved wheels to traverse their congressional districts. Some 42 lawmakers participated in the program in 2024, including 15 Republican participants who represent geographically expansive districts that average 18,100 square miles each. The Republican participants primarily leased economy vehicles from American manufacturers, with several of their offices telling the Free Beacon that leasing a vehicle is a far more cost-effective way for the lawmakers to traverse their massive districts as opposed to paying for airfare or using their personal vehicle at the IRS reimbursement rate of 67 cents per mile.
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Details about the make and model of the vehicles leased by members of the House in 2024 are hazy at best, and the offices of most participating members did not respond to Free Beacon requests for comment. Caitlin Sutherland, the executive director of the ethics watchdog Americans for Public Trust, said it was “disturbing” that members of Congress chose not to disclose details of their publicly financed leases.
“Riding around in a taxpayer-funded Lexus and not being forthcoming with constituents raises ethical questions and is unacceptable, particularly in our current era of rising accountability over government spending,” Sutherland told the Free Beacon. “Taxpayers have the right to know what type of vehicle they’re subsidizing to ensure this program is not being abused.”
Indeed, the vehicle lease program has been abused by Democratic lawmakers in the past. In 2010, former Rep. John Conyers (D., Mich.) came under fire when it came to light his son was driving his taxpayer-funded 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. He later admitted wrongdoing in the matter and reimbursed the Treasury $5,682.
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Of the 27 Democrats with taxpayer-funded vehicles, only three responded to Free Beacon requests for comment. The office of Rep. Norma Torres (D., Calif.) said she leased a Toyota Hybrid Prius in 2024 with taxpayer funds, and a spokesman for Rep. Patrick Ryan (D., N.Y.) said the lawmaker’s vehicle lease payments financed the van he uses for his mobile constituent services office. Rep. Hank Johnson (D., Ga.) leased a 2023 GMC Terrain to transport equipment and other materials to district events, his office told the Free Beacon.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R., Texas) was the lone Republican member known to have made lease payments to a luxury car brand in 2024. His office paid $10,583 to Lexus and Lexus Toyota Financial Services in 2024, House disbursement records show. Nehls spokeswoman Emily Matthews declined to share the make and model of his taxpayer-funded vehicle.
“We believe it’s a good use of taxpayer funds, and we abide by all House rules and policies,” Matthews told the Free Beacon.
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