Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), the longest-serving House member, drives a Ford Escape Hybrid leased by his campaign but voted against the requirement because "historically, members have been held accountable by their constituents for these types of actions," said his spokeswoman.
More grumbling
Other lawmakers said their districts required sturdier vehicles.
Patrick Creighton, a spokesman for Rep. John E. Peterson (R-Pa.), who leases a flex-fuel Chevy Tahoe, said that the congressman's district is large, with mountainous terrain covered with snow part of the year -- "not the type of terrain a Mini Cooper was built to cover."
A number of lawmakers scoffed at the requirement, saying that forcing them into less-polluting vehicles would do almost nothing to affect climate change, and suggested that Congress could take more significant action to reduce oil imports.
Still other lawmakers objected to being told what to drive.
Rep. John T. Doolittle of Roseville, a conservative Republican, leases a Toyota Highlander Hybrid but believes lawmakers should be allowed to choose their own vehicles.
"I'm very excited about the hybrid technology," said Doolittle, whose family car also is a hybrid. "It would be great if every car were a hybrid. People might think, if they don't have one, well, those are the funny-looking, weak little cars. But a hybrid can give a tremendous power boost to a car."
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.), who said he chose an Infiniti M45 because it is suited for the high speeds on Interstate 95, which runs through his district, said that safety is his top concern. "If you don't have some giddyup, you're in a lot of trouble," he said.
"I really would prefer to be driving a tank."
richard.simon@latimes.com
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Going green
A provision of the new energy law will require House members who lease vehicles at taxpayer expense to choose vehicles with low greenhouse gas emissions. Here are the vehicles leased by House Californians, along with their combined fuel economy in miles per gallon, greenhouse gas scores* and carbon footprints.
