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News wires and blogs were abuzz last week with reports of representatives in Congress driving extravagant luxury vehicles at taxpayer expense thanks to a special program available to members of that esteemed body.

The reports were full of examples such as Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, who drives a Cadillac DeVille for $774 a month and told the New York Times, “I want them (constituents) to feel that they are somebody and their congressman is somebody.” The blogs were packed with the requisite outrage at the members’ excess.

For the record, the two congressmen who represent Collier County also lease cars on the taxpayers’ dime. Spokeswomen for both Connie Mack and Mario Diaz-Balart said they aren’t aware of any special program, as mentioned in the news accounts, but that both men lease vehicles using the money provided to run their offices.

Members of Congress not in senior leadership positions are allotted about $1.35 million a year to operate their offices. The money is to cover staff, office space, equipment and supplies.

Diaz-Balart leases a 2007 Jeep Wrangler at $636 a month. Mack leases a 2006 Ford Expedition at $825 a month. Both use the vehicles to travel their Florida districts.

The lease figures may seem high, but Mack spokeswoman Stephanie DuBois points out that members are limited to a two-year lease, in keeping with the two-year congressional term.

* * *

Call me a spendthrift, but I just don’t get the rush to buy the “Forever” stamp.

A stamp costs 41 cents. Next week a stamp will cost 42 cents. A Forever stamp bought this week will work next week and all the weeks thereafter, resulting in a savings of 1 cent.

If I buy five books of 20 Forever stamps for later use I can save $1.

Balance that savings with the time spent in line buying stamps on a busy day (thanks to all the other people trying to save a buck), the other potential uses for $41 and the need to keep track of five books of stamps in my junk drawer for several months and the benefits just don’t seem that significant.

Then again, I’m the sort of guy who will pay $2.69 for a gallon of gas rather than make a left turn across four lanes of traffic to buy it at $2.68 a gallon.

* * *

The year is young, but an early candidate for Least Surprising Development of 2008 has emerged.

The Naples Airport Authority has declined Naples City Council’s invitation to renegotiate the 99-year arrangement under which the airport pays the city $1 a year to lease the airport property.

You can image the tortured deliberations that took place before that decision was made. “Hmm. We could agree to a new lease based on fair market value that would cost us millions or we could keep things the way they are and spend $1. Millions or $1? Millions or $1? Let’s go with the $1.”

E-mail Brent Batten at bebatten@naplesnews.com