Friday, June 06, 2008,6:02 AM
'Transportation Crisis' Redux
About that photo I published the other day that showed what appeared to be a state-owned luxury Cadillac cruising Christiansburg earlier in the week, does anyone know if Tim Kaine has any kids attending Virginia Tech?

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The original story:

Transportation Crisis?

You bet we have a transportation crisis.

This Cadillac CTS (fully loaded, MSRP $35,000) was seen the other day tooling down the street in Christiansburg. An ever watchful taxpayer (and regular reader) snapped this photo and sent it to me along with a bit of narrative.

It seems the gorgeous luxury vehicle you see before you was being driven by an equally gorgeous young blond. Which is intriguing. And it had those "OFFICIAL STATE USE ONLY" license tags on the rear, as you can plainly see (I've removed the license number to protect the innocent - me).

Which is far more intriguing.

Someone tell me the hardpressed people of Virginia are not outfitting our government officials in luxury vehicles. Please.

There is an explanation for this, and I'd like to know it. What is the standard practice here in the commonwealth with regard to providing transportation for our employees? If this is some politician's personal vehicle, can he or she go out and lease a luxury Cadillac and have all or a portion of the monthly bill reimbursed by the state? Do the "official use only" plates" allow that politician to avoid paying the confiscatory license tag fee?

Tell me we don't have a fleet of Cadillacs (and Lexuses and Infinitis and ...) cruising around out there, paid for by people who are struggling mightily to make ends meet.

Please.

We deserve answers. Yours would be appreciated.
 
posted by Jerry Fuhrman
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