By Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | February 17, 2007
Governor Deval Patrick unabashedly defended his use of a $46,000 Cadillac DeVille for state business, saying yesterday that he abandoned the more customary and less expensive Crown Victoria used by former governor Mitt Romney because "they don't make it anymore."
Hours later his aides acknowledged that the statement was inaccurate.
Crown Victorias are still being made, they said, but do not meet security standards mandated by State Police.
A State Police spokesman said the new Crown Victoria's side airbags interfered with special security equipment that would be installed in the governor's car. He would not describe the equipment.<snip>
He said that in conjunction with State Police, he made the decision that the $1,166-a-month car was "useful and appropriate," and that he was too busy with state financial issues to focus too much on which car he used.
He pointed out that
it is American-made and comfortable and said to an Associated Press reporter: "You should take a ride in it. It's nice."
"I appreciate that some would prefer that we had bought a different model car," he said.
"That desk is stacked with decisions. This is not one I spent much time on. Given the weight and seriousness of the other decisions I have had, I don't have any regrets about this."More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/17/patrick_defends_use_of_cadillac/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News
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