Back in the bad old days, people with political connections got Statehouse jobs at taxpayer expense -- and luckier ones also got free state cars to drive.

This tax-funded featherbedding supposedly was reduced by rising professionalism and Civil Service. However, some cushy car benefits remain under the golden dome.

Few businesses give employees company cars to drive home at night. In the private sector, most workers, even executives, pay for their own commuting. But 29 state agencies let government officials commute in cars from the state's fleet of nearly 7,000 vehicles. It's a lucrative "perk" in these days of sky-high gasoline cost, with taxpayers footing the bill.

If a bureaucrat uses his state car more than half the time for personal driving, IRS rules require him to declare this boon as income -- equal to the lease price of the auto -- and pay taxes on it. If the car is used more than half the time for state business, the official must pay tax on just $3 per day commuting benefit.

A new state audit found that nobody knows exactly how many cars are owned by the state. And most agencies don't require bureaucrats to record their mileage, so it's impossible to know whether a state car is used more than half the time for personal driving.

Worse, the audit found that 90 state officials -- including Treasurer John Perdue and Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass -- don't pay taxes on the extra income afforded by their free state cars. We hope IRS inspectors scrutinize the auditor's list carefully.

Statehouse columnist Phil Kabler recounted that former Gov. Gaston Caperton once banned personal use of state autos after some Turnpike employees took Turnpike vehicles on hunting-fishing trips to Kentucky on state time. But Caperton's ban didn't last. Also, former Gov. Bob Wise ordered a 10 percent reduction in the state fleet, to save taxpayers money.

Currently, the state pays between $60 million and $70 million yearly for vehicles, including $24 million for gasoline. Is all this outlay needed for government operations -- or does part of it provide bureaucrat plums?

We remember when longtime Statehouse politico Curtis Sutphin was fired because he wrecked his state auto in Ohio. Other car outrages popped in the news occasionally. Why should taxpayers keep paying for such expensive abuses?

Does the state government really need 7,000 cars at $65 million yearly cost? If nightly commuting were halted, how much would taxpayers save? A legislative committee should get some answers for the people.

Back in the bad old days, people with political connections got Statehouse jobs at taxpayer expense -- and luckier ones also got free state cars to drive.

This tax-funded featherbedding supposedly was reduced by rising professionalism and Civil Service. However, some cushy car benefits remain under the golden dome.

Few businesses give employees company cars to drive home at night. In the private sector, most workers, even executives, pay for their own commuting. But 29 state agencies let government officials commute in cars from the state's fleet of nearly 7,000 vehicles. It's a lucrative "perk" in these days of sky-high gasoline cost, with taxpayers footing the bill.

If a bureaucrat uses his state car more than half the time for personal driving, IRS rules require him to declare this boon as income -- equal to the lease price of the auto -- and pay taxes on it. If the car is used more than half the time for state business, the official must pay tax on just $3 per day commuting benefit.

A new state audit found that nobody knows exactly how many cars are owned by the state. And most agencies don't require bureaucrats to record their mileage, so it's impossible to know whether a state car is used more than half the time for personal driving.

Worse, the audit found that 90 state officials -- including Treasurer John Perdue and Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass -- don't pay taxes on the extra income afforded by their free state cars. We hope IRS inspectors scrutinize the auditor's list carefully.

Statehouse columnist Phil Kabler recounted that former Gov. Gaston Caperton once banned personal use of state autos after some Turnpike employees took Turnpike vehicles on hunting-fishing trips to Kentucky on state time. But Caperton's ban didn't last. Also, former Gov. Bob Wise ordered a 10 percent reduction in the state fleet, to save taxpayers money.

Currently, the state pays between $60 million and $70 million yearly for vehicles, including $24 million for gasoline. Is all this outlay needed for government operations -- or does part of it provide bureaucrat plums?

We remember when longtime Statehouse politico Curtis Sutphin was fired because he wrecked his state auto in Ohio. Other car outrages popped in the news occasionally. Why should taxpayers keep paying for such expensive abuses?

Does the state government really need 7,000 cars at $65 million yearly cost? If nightly commuting were halted, how much would taxpayers save? A legislative committee should get some answers for the people.