Tom Corbett, the gov-elect...
Posted on 11/30/2010 4:37:53 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
Pennsylvania judges on the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts lease a variety of luxury cars including Cadillacs, a Mercedes Benz and high-end SUVs at the state’s expense, a newspaper reported.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Sunday that 25 jurists in the state lease cars under a provision that reimburses them up to $600 a month; 13 opt not to lease vehicles.
The state began paying for cars for appellate judges in 1990, and the practice continues despite other elected and appointed state officials who use cheaper fleet vehicles to keep costs down.
Greg Wrightstone, of the PA Coalition for Responsible Government, said the car allowances are even harder to understand because the state's top judges are among the nation's highest paid.
Some make in excess of $175,000 a year, he said.
"These judges receive excessive perks, including extravagant car allowances, dinner expenses, health care and pension benefits, and the taxpayers are left to foot the bill," Wrightstone told the newspaper.
Among the judges' cars are $568 a month for a 2010 Cadillac driven by Chief Justice Ronald Castille and $450 a month for a 2010 Mercedes Benz driven by Superior Court Judge Sallie Updyke Mundy.
Supreme Court Justice Max Baer leases a 2010 GMC Acadia from his brother's Washington dealership for $510 a month.
"Because of the amount we drive, and terrible weather, I don't want to sound spoiled but I want air conditioning and a heating system that work, all-wheel-drive and stability control so I don't end up rolled up on the side of the road," Baer told the newspaper.
Duquesne University law professor Bruce Ledewitz said there is little accountability of how much judges spend and it symbolizes a culture of arrogance.
(Excerpt) Read more at lehighvalleylive.com ...
You can get that with a Hyundai Tucson, which you could easily afford on your own salary. Take this perk away.
Tom Corbett, the gov-elect...
Supreme Court Justice Max Baer leases a 2010 GMC Acadia from his brother’s Washington dealership for $510 a month.
“Because of the amount we drive, and terrible weather, I don’t want to sound spoiled but I want air conditioning
I have a KIA Spectre with good snow tires. I made it up and down hills in last years 2 ft of snow and it has a heater and AC. So yeah you are a spoided jerk..
His own problem I would say especially given the salaries and other perks.
Tell him if that’s what he wants, he can have it....when he buys it himself.
Take this perk away. We don’t need to be financing transportation for judges.
ENOUGH!!! Everyone one else PAYS for their OWN transportation to work!!! geesh, STOP THE MADNESS!!
This is an actual quote? This man should be ashamed of himself!!! I wonder how all those blue collar workers get around in the snow? How about he heat in the summer? Guess what Judge.....it is called a damned car payment, we all have them!!!!!!!!!! If you can't afford a few hundred a month on 6 figures, you have serious problems!!!!!
9 words two "I" usages, but he doesn't want to sound spoiled.
Listen, you cheap prick, you make over $ 100,000 salary, have a daily expense account, and a business lease tax write off... use your own money, which, by the way, is my tax dollars, that I'm paying for your cheezy services.
“Justice” Max Baer is a Democrat, by the way.
One of Corbett’s campaign promises, which appeared on his ads, was to limit the fleet of government vehicles. We will be watching this one...
State Supreme Court Justice Max Baer
$568 a month for a 2010 Cadillac driven by Chief Justice Ronald Castille...
2010 Mercedes Benz driven by Superior Court Judge Sallie Updyke Mundy...
Didn’t he play Jethro on the Beverley Hillbilkies?
What a tool. If he honestly expects anyone to sympathize with his “plight”, I’ll tell him where to look it up in the dictionary.
I am in hopes they look into state senators and reps also. They get vehicles. I followed one SUV with Pa senate plate into Delaware. He shopped tax free. I should have used my I phone. He is a Democrat.
“They get vehicles”
In what insane asylum do the elected legislatures get vehicles at taxpayer expense?
all they get in Indiana is a special license plate, and they have to pay for that!
Spending is out of control. It won’t be easy to get cars taken away from these guys.
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