Congress Full of Gas

But not too quickly. After lunchtime votes, senators emerged from the Capitol for the drive across the street to their offices.

Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) hopped in a GMC Yukon (14 mpg). Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) climbed aboard a Nissan Pathfinder (15). Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) stepped into an eight-cylinder Ford Explorer (14). Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) disappeared into a Lincoln Town Car (17). Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) met up with an idling Chrysler minivan (18).

Next came Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), greeted by a Ford Explorer XLT. On the Senate floor Tuesday, Menendez had complained that Bush "remains opposed to higher fuel-efficiency standards."

Also waiting: three Suburbans, a Nissan Armada V8, two Cadillacs and a Lexus. The greenest senator was Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), who was picked up by his hybrid Toyota Prius (60 mpg), at quadruple the fuel efficiency of his Indiana counterpart Evan Bayh (D), who was met by a Dodge Durango V8 (14).

Sen. Schumer (D-NY)drives a Hyundai Elantra; Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) uses a Jetta; and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) drives around in a Chrysler LHS (18mpg).

Get ready for the usual excuses. Some of those senators complaining loudest are the ones driving around in the biggest gas guzzlers made. These senators will claim that they need the larger cars because of their ability to haul a bunch of people in comfort (think of the staffers). Of course, there are a few Senators who are driving around with more responsible vehicles. It's a personal choice really - and if the hypocrites on the Hill want to start with mandating what kind of vehicles we should be driving, may I suggest walking across the street to their offices instead of driving. It's not that long of a walk. And think of all the gas we'd save.

And think of the health benefits.