Democrats in Congress Drive Luxury Cars on Taxpayer DimeRep. Jasmine Crockett billed taxpayers $11,996 in 2024 for a fresh set of wheelsAndrew Kerr
March 20, 2025Rep. 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.
But the same can’t be said for many of the 27 Democratic participants in the program, several of whom used taxpayer funds to lease vehicles from luxury brands including Tesla, Lexus, and Volvo. And 15 of those Democrats, including Crockett, represent dense urban districts that are smaller than 500 square miles.
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https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democrats-in-congress-drive-luxury-whips-on-taxpayer-dime/
