I seem to have missed this very special episode of CHiPS as a kid...

[Logan Darklighter]

As a result of too many high profile drunken driver arrests involving California legislators, state senate officials have hired designated driving employees to drive home inebriated lawmakers. 
Spending $60k a year to drive drunk senators home is a wise use of taxpayer money? Why can't they call a cab and use their own money like the rest of us? They're  already overpaid and get tax free per diem so they should be able to afford it.

And people wonder why California is going bankrupt... 
ThsThey're  already overpaid and get tax free per diem so they should be able to afford it.

[Black Aeronaut]

At least thier governor doesn't pander to the tin-foil-hat contingent. :p

[robkelk]

As a result of too many high profile drunken driver arrests involving California legislators, state senate officials have hired designated driving employees to drive home inebriated lawmakers. 

[url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article22661379.html][/url]Spending $60k a year to drive drunk senators home is a wise use of taxpayer money? Why can't they call a cab and use their own money like the rest of us? They're  already overpaid and get tax free per diem so they should be able to afford it.

And people wonder why California is going bankrupt... 

What, in these times of high unemployment, you want to take a job away from someone?

Less facetiously, one doesn't want drunken lawmakers leaving sensitive documents in cabs. If they leave documents in a state-owned vehicle, one can expect those documents to remain unread and be returned.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

Also, it may be one of those things where the public damages done by drunken legislators and the settlements and legal fees are less expensive than a dedicated motorpool plus drivers. :p

But ten will get you twenty that about half the time, these guys won't avail themselves of the service provided by the tax payer's dollar.

In which case, I feel that should be a suitable excuse to recall said legislator and make sure they get nailed to the floor just like us mere mortals.