Knight Ridder Newspapers

Car leases by Congress members by the numbers:

Most Expensive Cars:

Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark: Ford Expedition, $1,248.31

Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif.: Acura, $1,231.51

Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif.: Chevrolet truck, $1,227.17

Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla.: Chevrolet, $1,180.99

Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio: Lincoln, $1,078.21

Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif.: Toyota Highlander, $1,073.73

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.: Lexus, $1,062.85

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.: Cadillac DeVille, $998.48

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.: Ford Escape, $922.55

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.: Chevrolet Tahoe, $903.80

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Lincoln Town Car, $901.22



Cheapest Cars:

Rep. John Carter, R-Texas: $210.65

Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C.: Honda Accord, $214.79

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y.: Chevrolet Impala, $219

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.: Nissan Altima, $256.74

Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill.: Mercury, $266.55



Drive American? Several lawmakers chose to lease foreign cars at taxpayers’ expense. Among them:

Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif.: Acura, $1,231.51

Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif.: Toyota Highlander, $1,073.73

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.: Lexus: $1,062.85

Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla.: Nissan Pathfinder: $843.16

Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.: Infiniti M45: $799.77

Rep. John Linder, R-Ga.: Lexus, $508.41

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.: BMW 530i, $499.93

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.: Acura, $429.25

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.: Nissan Altima, $256.74

Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C.: Honda Accord: $214.79



Double-dippers: The following members of Congress lease two cars monthly at taxpayer cost:

Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.

Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas

Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn.

Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.



Triple Dippers: The following members lease three cars monthly at taxpayer expense:

Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.

Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark.



What you pay for when a member of Congress leases a car:

1. The monthly cost of the lease

2. Insurance

3. Excess mileage charges

4. Incidental operating expenses (gas, oil, general maintenance, etc.)

5. Registration fees

6. Property tax during the term of the lease



Who’s driving what:

-Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., knows his cars: He once worked as a toll collector on the New York State Thruway. He leases a BMW 530i for $499.93 a month and a Nissan Altima for $256.74 a month.

-Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., was a federal judge before he was impeached and removed from office. Taxpayers now pay $799.77 a month for his Infiniti M45, a luxury sedan that he drives through a district in which nearly 22 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.



Below is a complete list of House members who lease cars with public funds:

Name/ Total 2005 lease cost/ Political affiliation, state/ Number of SUVs/ Type

-Rodney Alexander, $10,338.84, R-La., 1, GMC Yukon

-Joe Baca, $8,456.80, D-Calif., vehicles not identified

-Bob Beauprez, $5,856.96, R-Colo., 1, GMC Envoy

-Howard Berman, $7,144.65, D-Calif., 1, Ford Escape

-Marion Berry, $5,279.54, D-Ark., 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Michael Bilirakis, $5,774.41, R-Fla., Ford 500

-Roy Blunt, $10,845.60, R-Mo., 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Sherwood Boehlert, $7,513.40, R-N.Y., 1, Jeep

-Jo Bonner, $8,265.36, R-Ala., 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Mary Bono, $8,775.96, R-Calif., 1, Ford Expedition

-John Boozman, $7,791.36, R-Ark., Buick LaCrosse

-Leonard Boswell, $6,298.56, D-Iowa, Chrysler Town & Country

-Kevin Brady, $7,293.33, R-Texas, 1, GMC Yukon

-Dan Burton, $14,175.33, R-Ind., Dodge

-Dave Camp, $7,772.07, R-Mich., 1, GMC Envoy

-Chris Cannon, $3,734.74, R-Utah, Dodge Intrepid

-Dennis Cardoza, $13,498.87, D-Calif., Chevy Truck

-Julia Carson, $4,608.54, D-Ind., Chrysler 300

-John Carter, $2,527.80, R-Texas, 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Donna Christensen, $3,767.52, D-Virgin Islands

-William Lacy Clay, $5,453.62, D-Mo., Mercury Montego

-James Clyburn, $6,122.52, D-S.C., Lincoln

-Michael Conaway, $4,693.12, R-Texas, 1, Ford Expedition

-Christopher Cox, $4,496.09, R-Calif., Chrysler Sebring

-Robert “Bud” Cramer, $8,778.68, D-Ala., 1, Ford Explorer

-Joseph Crowley, $5,580.00, D-N.Y., vehicles not identified

-Henry Cuellar, $3,297.12, D-Texas, vehicles not identified

-John Culberson, $6,735.60, R-Texas, Chrysler Sebring

-Randy “Duke” Cunningham, $7,652.40, R-Calif., 1, Ford SUV

-Artur Davis, $7,684.53, D-Ala., Ford 500

-Danny Davis, $3,534.63, D-Ill., Mercury Grand

-Diana DeGette, $5,113.16, D-Colo., 1, Ford Freestyle

-Bill Delahunt, $6,018.76, D-Mass., Ford 500

-Lincoln Diaz-Balart, $10,394.52, R-Fla., Chrysler

-Mario Diaz-Balart, $10,184.88, R-Fla., Chrysler 300

-John Doolittle, $3,221.19, R-Calif., 1, Toyota Highlander

-David Dreier, $7,158.11, R-Calif., Chrysler 300

-Anna Eshoo, $5,151.00, D-Calif., Acura

-Lane Evans, $7,662.48, D-Ill., 1, Chevy Trailblazer

-Chaka Fattah, $8,513.50, D-Pa., 1, GMC Envoy

-Tom Feeney, $10,117.92, R-Fla., 1, Nissan Pathfinder

-Michael Fitzpatrick, $4,349.61, R-Pa., Ford 500

-Mark Foley, $4,088.70, R-Fla., 1, GMC Yukon

-Harold Ford, $8,049.84, D-Tenn., 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Jeff Fortenberry, $3,393.49, R-Neb., Buick

-Vito Fossella, $7,733.04, R-N.Y., 1, Jeep Grand Cherokee

-Phil Gingrey, $7,389.10, R-Ga., 1, GMC Yukon

-Sam Graves, $14,950.00, R-Mo., Buick LeSabre; Chevy

-Gene Green, $7,626.36, D-Texas, Impala

-Al Green, $8,877.48, D-Texas, 1, GMC Yukon

-Raul Grijalva, $3,946.20, D-Ariz., Chevy Impala

-Alcee Hastings, $10,147.06, D-Fla., Infiniti M45

-Wally Herger, $8,400.00, R-Calif., 1, Ford

-Brian Higgins, $3,406.84, D-N.Y., 1, Chevy Trailblazer

-Maurice Hinchey, $9,080.04, D-N.Y., BMW 530i; Nissan Altima

-David Hobson, $5,582.40, R-Ohio, Pontiac

-Peter Hoekstra, $7,164.63, R-Mich., 1, Ford Escape

-Sheila Jackson-Lee, $9,081.26, D-Texas, 1, Lincoln Navigator

-William Jefferson, $9,524.28, D-La., Lincoln Town Car

-Bobby Jindal, $6,979.48, R-La., vehicles not identified

-Sam Johnson, $7,076.04, R-Texas, 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Stephanie Tubbs Jones, $5,923.20, D-Ohio, Chrysler 300

-Paul Kanjorski, $11,289.88, D-Pa., 1, GMC Yukon

-Ric Keller, $6,944.52, R-Fla., 1, Mercury Mountaineer

-Sue Kelly, $8,735.70, R-N.Y., 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Mark Kennedy, $6,946.44, R-Minn., 1, Ford Explorer

-Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, $9,792.00, D-Mich., Cadillac

-Steve LaTourette, $8,178.84, R-Ohio, Lincoln LS

-Barbara Lee, $7,250.88, D-Calif., Chrysler

-Jerry Lewis, $6,831.11, R-Calif., vehicles not identified

-John Lewis, $8,618.35, D-Ga., Pontiac Bonneville

-John Linder, $6,609.33, R-Ga., Lexus

-Connie Mack, $3,031.38, R-Fla., Ford 500

-Donald Manzullo, $5,548.68, R-Ill., 1, Mercury Mountaineer

-Jim McCrery, $6,872.64, R-La., Ford 500

-Mike McIntyre, $13,130.40, D-N.C.,1, Chevy Trailblazer; Pontiac Grand Prix ; Pontiac Bonneville

-Howard “Buck” McKeon, $14,778.12, R-Calif., Acura

-Cynthia McKinney, $4,353.44, D-Ga., 1, Ford Expedition

-Mike McNulty, $9,925.44, D-N.Y., 1, Buick Rainier

-Kendrick Meek, $9,209.16, D-Fla., vehicles not identified

-Gregory Meeks, $12,754.20, D-N.Y., Lexus

-Charlie Melancon, $6,804.63, D-La., 1, Ford Expedition

-Mike Michaud, $1,276.95, D-Maine, Toyota Camry

-Juanita Millender-McDonald, $8,888.28, D-Calif., Ford

-Gary Miller, $8,660.88, R-Calif., 1, Ford Expedition

-Sue Myrick, $2,577.48, R-N.C., Honda Accord

-Randy Neugebauer, $17,262.59, R-Texas, 2, Chevy Tahoes

-Bob Ney, $12,988.52, R-Ohio, Lincoln

-Solomon Ortiz, $8,491.56, D-Texas, 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Major Owens, $8,880.00, D-N.Y., Chevy Impala

-Ed Pastor, $6,272.16, D-Ariz., Chrysler 300

-Mike Pence, $4,226.28, R-Ind., Chevy Venture

-Collin Peterson, $9,402.52, D-Minn., 1, Chevy Equinox; Dodge

-John Peterson, $10,393.94, R-Pa., 1, GMC Yukon

-Richard Pombo, $7,086.36, R-Calif., Lincoln

-Nick Rahall, $11,724.00, D-W.Va., vehicles not identified

-Charlie Rangel, $11,981.76, D-N.Y., Cadillac DeVille

-Ralph Regula, $6,864.00, R-Ohio, vehicles not identified

-Dennis Rehberg, $8,437.00, R-Mont., 1, Chevy Tahoe

-Rick Renzi, $8,919.24, R-Ariz., Dodge

-Silvestre Reyes, $6,419.28, D-Texas, 1, GMC Yukon

-Tom Reynolds, $6,291.90, R-N.Y., 1, Mercury Mountaineer

-Harold Rogers, $5,927.16, R-K.Y., vehicles not identified

-Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, $7,199.88, R-Fla., Chrysler Sebring

-Mike Ross, $36,343.44, D-Ark., 1, Ford 500; Ford Crown Victoria; Ford Expedition

-Ed Royce, $6,373.20, R-Calif., Ford 500

-Bobby Rush, $7,900.20, D-Ill., vehicles not identified

-Paul Ryan, $3,150.00, R-Wis., Chevy

-Jim Ryun, $7,348.20, R-Kan., 1, Chevy Trailblazer

-Linda Sanchez, $4,890.05, D-Calif., Chevy Impala

-Jim Saxton, $3,730.08, R-N.J., 1, Chevy Trailblazer

-Adam Schiff, $6,774.68, D-Calif., Chrysler 300

-Jose Serrano, $3,901.02, D-N.Y., Buick Lacrosse

-Don Sherwood, $6,332.16, R-Pa., Chevy Impala

-Bill Shuster, $7,489.68, R-Pa., Chrysler Town and Country

-Mike Simpson, $8,421.46, R-Idaho, 2, GMC Envoys

-Louise Slaughter, $7,575.66, D-N.Y., Pontiac Bonneville

-Vic Snyder, $5,747.16, D-Ark., Buick LeSabre

-Mark Souder, $5,760.00, R-Ind., Dodge van

-Cliff Stearns, $7,762.69, R-Fla., Chrysler Town and Country

-John Sullivan, $15,596.91, R-Okla., Chevy

-Tom Tancredo, $14,201.04, R-Colo., Chevy; other vehicle not identified

-John Tanner, $5,493.60, D-Tenn., Ford Freestar

-Edolphus Towns, $11,321.04, D-N.Y., vehicles not identified

-Nydia Velazquez, $2,308.85, D-N.Y., vehicles not identified

-Peter Visclosky, $7,383.36, D-Ind., Buick

-James T. Walsh, $3,526.47, R-N.Y., 1, Jeep

-Maxine Waters, $10,814.64, D-Calif., Lincoln Town Car

-Diane Watson, $10,093.32 , D-Calif., vehicles not identified

-Melvin Watt, $9,567.00, D-N.C., vehicles not identified

-Anthony Weiner, $2,628.00, D-N.Y., Chevy Impala

-Curt Weldon, $8,551.12, R-Pa., 1, Ford Expedition

-Roger Wicker, $7,965.72, R-Miss., 1, Buick Rainier

-Joe Wilson, $11,070.60, R-S.C., 1, Ford Escape

-Lynn Woolsey, $5,623.08, D-Calif., Ford Taurus

-Don Young, $9,413.14, R-Alaska, Chrysler 300

Total: $1,052,886.97



(c) 2006, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

AP-NY-03-11-06 1407EST


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