Muscle cars for state pols

While more of California's elected officials are going hybrid green, the Capitol's most powerful Democrat rolls candy-apple red in a $38,600 Dodge Charger with 22-inch rims. John Simerman and Harrison Sheppard in the Daily News.

Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, is far from alone among state lawmakers in his taste for gas-slurping automotive luxury at mostly taxpayer expense.

More than half of the senators who use state-leased cars opt for traditional gas vehicles that get 20 combined city/highway miles or less per gallon, according to an analysis of Senate data using new federal fuel-economy ratings.