Not Larry Sabato reports on an interesting purchase by the campaign of Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va.:

Seriously?  The $174,000 Congressional salary isn’t enough- Rick also needs to make his campaign donors pay for his new car?

Even worse is if you look at his donors from various special interests that most Congressman get.  The Congressional gift ban doesn’t allow any contribution over $50- and even then it must be unsolicited. But I guess it is perfectly legal for a Congressman to hit up special interests to max out to their campaign account and then buy themselves a brand new car with that (untaxed) money?

The car, a Ford Edge, cost over $29,000. So here’s a question: If he loses, does he still get to use the car? Will he have to sell it? Can he only use it for certain things?

Beltway Confidentialelection 2010USva