Lawmakers Spend Heavily

June 1st, 2009 | Add a Comment

House members get a government expense allowance of $1.3 million to $1.9 million a year. Senators get $2.9 million to $4.5 million.

Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings spent $24,730 in taxpayer money last year to lease a 2008 luxury Lexus hybrid sedan.
Ohio Rep. Michael Turner expensed a $1,435 digital camera.
Eni Faleomavaega, the House delegate from American Samoa, bought two 46-inch Sony TVs.
Rep. Howard Berman expensed $84,000 worth of personalized calendars, printed by the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, for his constituents.
Rep. Faleomavaega bought TVs for $1,473 apiece in mid-November.
Rep. Rodney Alexander of Louisiana paid $20,000 for a 2009 lease on a Toyota Highlander, a hybrid SUV.
Rahm Emanuel, who resigned from his Illinois congressional seat in January to become President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, recorded a $33,000 printing expense in the fourth quarter.
Rep. William Jefferson spent $2,793 on a Panasonic Toughbook laptop, which is marketed to the military
Tim Mahoney includes an $11,000 payment on his House-issued credit card to cover airfare for him and an aide incurred in September, with the line “A/F Mahoney/Mitchell.”