About Alcee Hastings’ $24,730 Lexus lease….
by George Bennett | June 1st, 2009U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, is defending his use of $24,730 in taxpayer money last year to lease a 2008 Lexus hybrid sedan.
As noted over the weekend, 
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, was the first example cited by The Wall Street Journal in an article about legal but “eye-catching” expenses that members of Congress have passed on to taxpayers.
“The lease of the vehicle in question has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives,” Hastings’ chief of staff, Lale Mamaux, said in an e-mail Monday.
“It is an energy-efficient vehicle that the congressman feels safe driving throughout his district, which … encompasses Palm Beach, Broward, Hendry, Martin and St. Lucie counties,” Mamaux said. “He believes that the overall cost of the vehicle will decrease as he plans to keep it over the next six years for official business.”
Mamaux didn’t respond to a follow-up request for more detailed information about the lease, so it was unclear what period was covered by the $24,730.
Because they serve two-year terms, House members cannot enter into lease agreements of longer than two years, said Jeff Ventura, a spokesman for the House chief administrator’s office, which approves members’ spending.
A two-year lease on a Lexus GS 450h might cost $1,000 to $1,300 a month, one South Florida dealer said.
House members get annual allowances of about $1.3 million apiece to pay staff salaries and travel costs and purchase office supplies and equipment. About 100 lawmakers use a portion of their allowances to lease vehicles for official use, the Journal reported.
Former U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, who was defeated in his 2008 reelection bid, also was mentioned in the Journal story for spending $11,000 to cover 13 trips during a two-month period last year.
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Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
AT $25k a year thats $2000.00 a month. You could lease a Rolls or Bently and not even pay that much. Clearly there is somthing going on here maybe some kickbacks. This guy should be in jail. He is a crook and has always has been a crook. But for some reason his people seem to think its all right to steal and take bribes so he keeps getting reelected.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
garco, the official vehicle for corruption county is an esclade …like duh
June 1st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
you sure as hell won’t get my vote next election
June 1st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
a six yr lease,,,no wonder we,r broke..
June 1st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Let him rent a KIA. Who is he trying to impress? Its just a vehicle for transportation. He should be setting the example not abuse it. Seems like things are great for him during these hard times. We have to cut back and he just looks the other way. Throw the BUM out.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
He could have paid off a Hybrid Chevy for that price already. Saving lots more of our taxpayer “mula” for the next 6 years and help the troubling GM! 2009 Malibu Hybrid is $26,275……
June 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
6 years! I might be mistaken but a House of Rep is not a 6 year term right?
June 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
This is what you get when you leave someone in office too long. We desperately need term limits.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Soon enough the lawmakers will make a law dictating all government employees will have to drive a GM vehicle (GM= Government Motors)Thanks to George Bush for sending a lasting message that big government will work, and to Barrack Obama for picking up this torch and adding fuel.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pm
they simply dont care, not one of them, $25k a year for a car, i mean comeon, you could get a condo downtown for that
June 1st, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Wow, way to flub up, Hasty. This is a $104,000 car, with no options. A quick peruse found this delicious quote:
“The allure of green driving has become so pervasive amongst the rich and powerful that many people of means and influence have been seen driving around Priuses with pride. So one can imagine Toyota’s marketing execs asking the question: “Why are we selling technologically advanced $22,000 cars to wealthy people when we could be selling them $100,000 luxury cars with the same technology?”
But at least it’s true, the car is green: the color of money.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
The fact Rep Hastings is gifting himself a Lexus to the tune of $24,000 a year on my dime does not surprise me. After all, he was impeached as a federal judge far ethical violations involving money and bribes, so what is new here? Of course, if it had been a Republican congressman, it would have been reported much differently
June 1st, 2009 at 3:01 pm
A six year LEASE????? Does anyone know what that will cost and he/we still won’t own the car. Too bad, some of you voted for this ignoramus,not me!
June 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Let’s see….$24,730 a year for a 6 year lease totals $148,380 not including any deposits, oil changes, brakes, tire replacement, insurance, fuel, over mileage fees, and other routine costs….This car could end up costing taxpayers close to $200K….but I guess as long as he feels SAFE driving it, that’s all that matters isn’t it Al….how many American jobs did you save with this vehicle?? and isn’t it a bit presumptuous to take a 6 year lease when your term is only for 2 years?? Who picks up the bill when you get voted out of office??
June 1st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
The next step is to find out WHO in the House of Representatives gave the OK for this lease payment and get some answers. In light of the economy, American job market, reckless corporate spending and entitlement, what idiot thought this was a prudent use of taxpayer money when a GM or Ford hybrid would get better mileage for a whole lot less??
June 1st, 2009 at 3:19 pm
$24,730 per year… isn’t that what it costs for a year of incarceration at Eglin? …and I can only imagine what the 22″ wheels cost!
June 1st, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Looks like he’s toning it down from the $150,000 bribe and subsequent perjury that led him to be impeached as a federal judge in the late ’80’s.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
Ah, corrupt? Likely. Ah, A vilified MC? (member of congress). Definately.
But he’s OUR corrupt MC, and we have to keep him, since the rest of the country keeps thiers, too.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 am
[...] More on Alcee Hastings’ car is here, at the Post On Politics blog. [...]
June 4th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
just made fox news!