WASHINGTON -- Members of the U.S. House of Representatives will no longer be allowed to lease gas guzzling vehicles on the taxpayers' dime. The House has approved a new rule, limiting the types of cars to be included in the congressional car leasing program.

The 135 Members of Congress who've chosen to spend federal tax dollars to lease cars for their offices will have to shift to fuel-efficient cars, including hybrids or flex-fuel cars. If they choose to stick with gas guzzlers, they'll have to begin paying for their leases out of their own pockets. The rules take effect once the current lease expires or on January 1, 2009, whichever is earlier.

Missouri Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver told Environment and Energy Daily newspaper most members of Congress lease cars that are not considered fuel-efficient by the EPA. That includes members who lease S.U.V.'s, luxury town cars, and minivans.

Pennsylvania Republican Bill Shuster will have to pick up the tab himself, if he wins re-election and again chooses to lease his Chrysler Town and Country.

A spokesman said Pennsylvania Republican Rep. John Peterson, who spends about $800 federal tax dollars a month to lease a 2007 Chevy Tahoe, would not qualify for the lease program next year. Peterson, however, is retiring in December.

To read the new "no-lease" list, click on the website below. The model of each car is listed beneath the first column. To determine if it'll be allowed under the new rules, read beneath the final column titled "SMARTWAY".
'No Lease List'