Did El Paso Rep. Norma Chavez improperly pocket mileage payments from the State?
Texas State Rep. Norma Chavez has allegedly been representing the best interests of her constituents in the El Paso area for the last fourteen years. He is now running for a sixth term for the 9th Assembly District against Kenneth D. Franks in the November 2010 election.
As you’ll see from the text box below, Rep. Chavez has billed and collected over $15,000 from the State for mileage reimbursements from September 6, 2007 through May 6, 2010.
However, during this period of time her campaign paid over $19,000 for rental car expenses; nearly $25,000 for fuel, $2,000 for maintenance, and $5,000 to lease a car for her.
As we all know, mileage reimbursements are meant to cover all expenses of operating a vehicle, which would include the cost of the vehicle, fuel and maintenance. Therefore, it certainly appears that Rep. Chavez was not lawfully entitled to pocket the mileage payments he received from the State of Texas.
Just below the text box, you’ll see a breakdown of rental car costs paid by Chavez’s campaign made by Chavez while she was in Austin and/or traveling to or from Austin.
Tax Liability for Commuting
It is black letter law that the IRS considers any and all expenses paid by a third party for commuting to be taxable income. Therefore, because Chavez’s campaign paid for fuel, rental cars, car leases and maintenance costs any and all commuting miles and/or personal use of said vehicle is taxable income.
I suspect that Ms. Chavez likely did not report said use to the IRS as income. However, if she did and/or claims she did, then I’m sure she would be more than happy to release copies of her tax returns proving she so acted.
Reporting Rep. Chavez’s conduct to the proper authorities
A complaint will be filed shortly with Travis County DA, the Texas State Controller, the IRS and the Texas Ethics Commission regarding Mr. Chavez’s conduct.
Year
|
State
Mileage
|
Fuel
|
Car Rentals
Austin
|
Auto Lease
|
Auto.
Misc.
|
2010
|
$2,288
|
$1,413
|
$4,565
|
$ 450
|
$464
|
2009
|
$4,708
|
$3,112
|
$3,122
|
$4,600
|
$838
|
2008
|
$7,116
|
$3,170
|
$6,714
|
|
|
2007
|
$1,380
|
$1,712
|
$4,608
|
|
$894
|
|
$15,492
|
$24,899
|
$19,009
|
$5,050
|
$2,196
|
2010 Rental Car Costs
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 4,435.23
|
3/03/2010
|
Gotv Vehicles
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 110.76
|
1/27/2010
|
Transportation Expense: Austin/capitol Travel
|
National Car Rental,
|
$ 109.45
|
2/10/2010
|
Transportation Expense: Austin/capitol Travel
|
2009 Rental Car Costs
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 95.85
|
11/06/2009
|
Transportation Austin/capitol Travel
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 178.16
|
2/05/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 412.72
|
2/26/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 135.91
|
8/27/2009
|
Transportation Austin/capitol Travel
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 237.32
|
3/13/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 47.66
|
4/10/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 181.21
|
8/16/2009
|
Transportation Austin/capitol Travel
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 207.57
|
1/18/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 186.32
|
2/12/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 233.92
|
3/06/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 261.10
|
3/20/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 151.43
|
10/22/2009
|
Transportation Expense: Austin/capitol Travel
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 140.11
|
10/12/2009
|
Transportation Expense: Austin/capitol Travel
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 47.92
|
10/28/2009
|
Transportation Expense: Austin/capitol Travel
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 421.43
|
1/15/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 135.91
|
7/10/2009
|
Transportation Expense: Austin/capitol Travel
|
Hertz Rent A Car,
|
$ 47.71
|
6/13/2009
|
Rental Vehicle For Session In Austin
|
2008 Rental Car Costs
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 92.65
|
3/05/2008
|
Austin Car Rental
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 191.05
|
11/28/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 127.48
|
3/16/2008
|
Austin Car Rental
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 84.98
|
4/16/2008
|
Austin Car Rental
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 1,289.47
|
9/01/2008
|
(see Travel Info)
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 42.49
|
1/18/2008
|
(see Travel Info)
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 42.49
|
5/01/2008
|
Houston Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 144.39
|
10/16/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 367.42
|
2/15/2008
|
Car Rental In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 84.99
|
5/11/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 169.97
|
10/30/2008
|
Car Rental In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 267.78
|
2/25/2008
|
Car Rental In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 452.41
|
11/22/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 137.06
|
3/09/2008
|
Austin Car Rental
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 399.37
|
12/12/2008
|
Car Rental In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 129.97
|
3/23/2008
|
Austin Car Rental
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 181.12
|
8/19/2008
|
Car Rental In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 339.94
|
5/01/2008
|
Austin Car Rental
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 169.97
|
9/25/2008
|
Austin Rental Vehicle
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 332.06
|
1/25/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 94.57
|
5/04/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 169.97
|
10/23/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 84.98
|
2/20/2008
|
Car Rental In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 588.79
|
5/18/2008
|
Austin Rental Car
|
Advantage Rent A Car,
|
$ 594.49
|
10/25/2008
|
Car Vehicle Rental Gotv
|
Advantage Rent A Car,
|
$ 133.34
|
10/25/2008
|
Car Rental: Gotv
|
2007 Rental Car Costs
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 260.00
|
1/15/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 264.96
|
11/09/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Ep Tx
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 305.00
|
8/30/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin Tx
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 42.49
|
11/15/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 138.98
|
9/14/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 84.98
|
12/05/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 1,139.00
|
3/27/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 79.87
|
9/29/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin Tx
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 127.48
|
12/13/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin Tx
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 84.98
|
10/11/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 124.28
|
11/03/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 1,050.00
|
2/23/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 76.01
|
9/06/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 127.48
|
11/29/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 79.87
|
9/27/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin Tx
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 139.52
|
12/07/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin Tx
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 51.44
|
10/05/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 66.77
|
12/20/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin Tx
|
Enterprise Rent A Car,
|
$ 366.28
|
10/22/2007
|
Car Rental Expense In Austin
|
|