Gas prices prompting some Conn. officials to rethink travel

State records show Blumenthal and his driver racked up 69,000 miles over the past 10 months on a state-owned Ford Crown Victoria, the vehicle assigned to nearly all the constitutional officers. via WTNH

[Jon]

$2.46 a gallon? What the hell? The public needs to buy gas at that price! Where does the extra $1.50 a gallon come from? I dont think its all taxes but if it is then get rid of them now!

[richard white]

Why is the gas at the "state" pumps so cheap? Do they not have to pay the same taxes we do?

[Wow_]

No state tax, no private station profit and it said that was the average for the year, not the current price.

[A happy CT Resident]

The State Officials have to drive to conduct State Bussiness but maybe they should leave the State Vehicles at work and drive their personal vehicles to Hartford. This way they can enjoy the same gas prices that all Connecticut residents do.

[just not fair]

no wonder nothing is being done on the state level or any other level about the high gas prices if state people have to pay less and the average connecticut resident pays more. They really dont see what we see or feel it in there pockets. If they had to struggle and pay the same gas price maybe something would be done.

[Bob C]

As an AG who opposes any energy proposals along with the anti energy explortion crowd , welcome aboard.As our friends" the Saudis strategically control our electon outcome with the intent to finalize the nails in USA's coffin our brainwashed politicos lead us down the road to ruin. Our foes move in off our shores to extrude petroleum when we sit idly with technical expertise to extrrude during transition to new and cleaner energy solutions. I once was a proud American.

[Kevin]

They arn't worried about it cause it aint costing them anything.

[Totally Frustrated]

How muuch do all the state vehicles provided to Commissioners, Directors and other State Employees cost the tax payer? That would be a story for Channel 8. Why hasn't it been done yet?

[wasting my tax money]

Why do any state employees get free cars and gas? I pay for my own commute. They should be using their own cars. Why do people that make more than $100,000 a year need us to pay for their ride? Maybe they would move closer to their work site, like the rest of the world... how far does Jokie Rell get driven to and from work? Live in the mansion, Jokie, that's one thing..

[Author Jean Marie Rusin]

When or who will stop the price of the gas.
It is really hurting so bad that the Poor are getting poorer and it is really crazy about everything going up and that why we have such high crimes. Because we do not have the money to survive. President Bush and everyone listen it is really bad do something now... Gov Rell; do the same help us now it is really bad. HELP!!!!!
$4.00 plus that is totally crazy!!! Bad for Economy.

[TRUTH]

I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE STATE PAYING ONCE IN WHILE HIGH PRICE GAS AND FOOD.STOP THE CRAP.YOU STATE PEOPLE FORGET THAT MOST TIMES YOU PAID $2.64 A GALLON.YOU ALSO FORGET TO MENTION CHANNEL 8 THAT OTHER STATE AGENTS ALSO USE STATE CAR AND TRUCK AND WHICH ARE ALLOW TO TAKE HOME.STATE POLICE,DCF,DMV AND MORE.WE ARE NOT STUPID HERE.ALL YOU JECKS ARE A JOKE TO THE HUMAN RACE.IT IS JUST PLAIN OLD TYRANNY!WE VOICE OURSELF AND YOU DON'T LIKE IT WE THE PEOPLE, HONEST PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO GETS ARRESTED NOT THE STATE MONEY GREED WORKERS.TO ALL YOU STATE WORKERS STOP USING THE STATE CARS AND TAKE YOUR OWN DAM CAR HOME,SAME FOR YOU CHANNEL 8.YOU GUYS ARE A BUNCH A SICKO.

[the basic one]

He says he feels somewhat embarrassed about driving a car that is so fuel inefficient.
wow this blows me away....and it's from greenwich to hartford... that's a ride...i'd be interested in knowing what cars and what distance these "state" cars drive in month/year...not just one or two but ALL of them...can't someone look up that info?

[Traped in CT]

Rage Against the Machine!!!!!!!!! The time has come to take control of our own destiny.I refuse to Vote for anyone anymore.Hillary,Obama,Oh and of course Rell!! YOU CAN ALL KISS MY AMARICAN
A.S.S.!!!!!!!!!I would not even think about voting for SCUMBAGS!!!!!

[1stSgt]

fucked if you do fucked if you don't~

[hmmm]

Of course Blumenthal feels embarrassed, He was caught. Someone should make his life living hell now for wasting our state dollars just like he's quick to go after everyone else. It's another CT govt. official who thinks he should be above us...probably never thought twice about wasting our money...

[Dog]

do the math,,in an average year state employees only work 200 days,,,thats the equivilent of 420 miles per day,,,move closer to work

[amazed]

even at 200 days worked and a 200 mile round trip to greenwich each day is 40,000 miles. at 20mpg which a crown vic does not get, that is 2000 gals of gas at our price costing $8,000 per year. at 'their' price $5,000.

even with this mileage as a minimum, that's a pretty hefty tab, not to mention burning out a car every two years or so. at 50 cents per mile that the irs allows as a travel expense deduction, this starting cost is $20,000 per year just for blumenthal, plus his driver no less to be paid and accommodated. where does s/he live and how does s/he get back and forth to blumenthal.

multiply this by all the state cars and drivers out there. HEY CHANNEL 8, get us that figure.

this ridiculously wasteful system has got to stop. if you get elected and you choose to live 100 miles away from hartford, pay your own freight, move, or bunk down in hartford. maybe the state should open up the UNUSED (jodi plays this game as well) governor's mansion as a residence for officials who can stay there during the work week and drive their OWN car home on the weekend.

there ain't no free ride for nobody any more.

[Redneckk]

Bob C wrote:

As an AG who opposes any energy proposals along with the anti energy explortion crowd , welcome aboard.As our friends" the Saudis strategically control our electon outcome with the intent to finalize the nails in USA's coffin our brainwashed politicos lead us down the road to ruin. Our foes move in off our shores to extrude petroleum when we sit idly with technical expertise to extrrude during transition to new and cleaner energy solutions. I once was a proud American.

Blumenthal has been on the wrong side of every issue as AG. If you notice though, he's always on the right side of the camera. Everthing you said above is correct, very sad, but totally accurate. We have an inept white house, a corrupt congress, and boneheads in every state capitol. We have the resources, and the technology to be oil independent right now. Too bad enviroMENTALists couldn't be burned for fuel. That would kill two birds with one stone.

[Joe Norwich CT]

Gov. Rell should take a leason from the late former Gov. Grasso. She used to be driven around in a Chevy Citation. She also emposed that all state cars be station on state property. I wish Channel 8 would do an ivestigation into how many state cars are being taken home, by department and for what reason. As far as public safety, I have no problem with the state police using their cars for personal use. My question is, since they are supposed to act in their duty when using the car on personal time, then why do they taken off their roof top mounted light bars on personal time? They should be highly visible on the road for safety and attention for all. What are they hiding from?

[Bill R]

only the Governor should be getting a state ride, for security purposes...

The other state officials should be commuting on their own dime.....just like other state employees..... why should taxpayers subsidize their travel to and from work ???