Thanks Congressman Xavier Becerra for driving a Prius.

[JDPriestly]

I have the best Congressman -- Xavier Becerra. Watch him. Check out his website. http://becerra.house.gov/HoR/CA31/About+Xavier/

He is just the greatest. DUers, please take note of that name. He is a man to watch. He has a great future. You don't hear much about him because he is rather humble, but, in fact, I believe he has a law degree from Stanford. He also has tremendous patience and compassion.

Here is an article from today's LA Times about lawmakers' cars and the new rule that they have to be environmentally friendly. Becerra had the most environmentally friendly car.

Congress has been bearing down to do more about global warming. But a little-noticed amendment to last year's energy bill has hit especially close to home. It requires House members who lease vehicles through their office budgets to drive cars that emit low levels of greenhouse gases.
. . . .
The 2003 Ford Expedition that Rep. Wally Herger (R-Chico) drives gets a combined city-highway average of 14 miles per gallon and emits about 13 tons of greenhouse gases a year. It scored a 2, the worst among California lawmakers who have taxpayer-funded vehicles.

Becerra's 2006 Prius, which gets about 46 mpg and emits about 4 tons of greenhouse gases annually, scored a 10.

The lease requirement passed narrowly last August after a brief debate, with most Democrats -- including Becerra and Watson -- supporting it and most Republicans -- including Barton, Gallegly and Herger -- opposing it. (Richardson was not in Congress for the vote on the amendment but supported the energy bill in December.)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-cars1-2008may01,1,7536806.story

http://becerra.house.gov/HoR/CA31/About+Xavier/

I think that we should recognize our Congressmen and women for the good things that they do.

[gateley]

1. I honor your Congressman

for doing the right thing and walking his talk. It never occurred to me to think about what our reps drive! We should contact our reps' offices and ask!

[Dr.Phool]

2. I bought my wife a new Prius for Valentines Day.

Which one of us should go to Congress?

[Divernan]

3. I just drove my dtr.'s first car/new Prius. It is sweet!

I'd love to get one too, but my 7 year old Saab 9/3 only has 165,000 miles on it, and my Saabs always last for at least 200,000 miles. And it does get excellent mileage.

I'd like to see PA legislators get environmentally friendly cars - they get free cars/leases from the state.

[Donnachaidh]

4. Great that he heas a prius -- but WHY are we paying for leases for these people?

In all seriousness -- they work in Government, and shouldn't be getting perks like this, period. How the hell are the reps going to feel the pain of the average consumer when they have LEASES WE pay for?

Good for him. He got a Prius. Now which representative is going to start driving their OWN cars, and paying for their OWN gas, like the rest of us?

[JDPriestly]

5. Because they can vote this perk for themselves -- tax-free transportation, not bad!

But, my Congressman is not an extremely rich man, and he serves one of the poorest areas of the U.S. And because the area is poor in a very expensive city, his constituents are especially poor.