As a candidate, Scott Walker ran an ad touting his frugality in personal transportation: "I pack a brown bag lunch and drive my 1998 Saturn with over 100,000 miles to cut costs, and think government should do the same."
When Walker became governor-elect, Isthmus reported, the state leased him a brand-new 2011 Yukon XL, which he purportedly had no say about. But now, Isthmus has learned, the guv has procured rockin' new wheels, frugality be damned.
The state is buying the 2010 Chevy Suburban used by former Gov. Jim Doyle for $40,225, says Department of Administration spokeswoman Carla Vigue. This vehicle had been leased for $935 per month under a General Motors program that ended last month. Vigue says the "fair market" purchase price is less than the $50,939 it would have cost to buy a new one.
In addition, a 2011 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, with just 1,300 miles on it, has been acquired for Walker's use in an interagency vehicle swap. (Doyle also used two cars, the second being a 2005 Buick Park Avenue.)
Records obtained by Isthmus show the state Department of Transportation provided this Crown Vic to DOA at the request of "the governor's detail." In exchange, the DOA gave the DOT a 2010 Ford Expedition, with 7,400 miles on it. The Expedition was said to have a higher "interagency sale price," $29,000 compared to $20,500, so DOA ended up with a newer vehicle plus $8,500.
That ought to buy a lot of brown bag lunches.
