HARRISBURG -- In an unexpected move, state senators have put the brakes on a cherished perk -- taxpayer-paid car leases of up to $600 a month.

	Area lawmakers and their leases Based on Post-Gazette research, 22 members of the state House from Allegheny and surrounding counties have taxpayer-paid leases for cars. Another 11 members do not take the optional leases and are reimbursed for mileage instead. Michael Diven, R-Brookline, 2004 Ford Crown Victoria, $393 per month. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, 2005 Chevy Uplander, $406 per month. Jess Stairs, R-Mount Pleasant, 2005 Mercury Mountaineer, $650 per month. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, 2005 Jeep Cherokee, $392 per month. Vince Biancucci, D-Aliquippa, 2005 Jeep Cherokee, $292 per month. Peter Daley, D-Washington, 2006 Ford Escape, $442 per month. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, 2004 Ford Explorer, $396 per month. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, 2005 Chevy Trailblazer, $397 per month. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, 2004 Dodge Durango, $422 per month. R. Ted Harhai, D-Monessen, 2004 Tahoe, $346 per month. Nick Kotik, D-Robinson, 2006 Jeep Cherokee, $359 per month. Frank LaGrotta, D-Lawrence, 2005 Chevy Uplander, $406 per month. David Levdansky, D-Forward, 2005 Jeep Cherokee, $292 per month. Joseph Markosek, D-Monroeville, 2005 Chrysler 300, $315 per month. Tom Petrone, D-Crafton Heights, 2005 Dodge Durango, $403 per month. Joseph Preston, D-East Liberty, 2005 Chevy Uplander, $406 per month. Sean Ramaley, D-Conway, 2005 Jeep Cherokee, $292 per month. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, 2006 Jeep Cherokee, $364 per month. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, 2005 Dodge Durango, $403 per month. Tom Tangretti, D-Hempfield, 2006 Jeep Cherokee, $364 per month. Don Walko, D-North Side, 2005 Chevy Uplander, $406 per month. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District, 2005 Dodge Durango, $403 per month. The following House members drive their own cars to Harrisburg and are reimbursed for mileage: Brian Ellis, R-Butler; John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair; Mark Mustio, R-Moon; Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City; Dick Stevenson, R-Mercer; H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg; James Casorio, D-Irwin; Paul Costa, D-Wilkins; Marc Gergely, D-White Oak; John Pallone, D-New Kensington; Joseph Petrarca, D-Vandergrift.

Without fanfare, the Senate's Committee on Management Operations adopted a new policy saying senators will have to drive their own vehicles and get mileage costs reimbursed by the state, as many private workers do with their employers.

As an alternative, senators have an option of driving a car that belongs to the state-owned fleet, just as some executive branch officials, such as Gov. Ed Rendell's cabinet members, do.

Another notable change will require senators and their staff members (a total of about 1,000 people) to contribute 1 percent of their gross salary toward their health care premiums.

Until now, the premiums were fully paid by the state. The change should save taxpayers at least $450,000 a year, Mike Long, an aide to Senate President Pro Tem Bob Jubelirer, said yesterday.

The new policy on car leasing will take effect Aug. 1. The health premium change will take effect Sept. 15.

Mr. Long said that of the 50 senators, only 10 had been using the car leases, and not all of them at the $600-a-month level.

He said he didn't know who leases what cars, but research done by the Post-Gazette shows that three senators from Western Pennsylvania have leases.

One is Mr. Jubelirer, an Altoona Republican who lost his re-election bid in May and will leave office Nov. 30. He leases a 2003 Lexus for $1,006 a month, with $600 coming from the state and the rest from himself.

Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, used to lease a 2002 Ford Explorer for $498 a month, but has switched to a less-expensive 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee at $364 a month.

Sen. Barry Stout, D-Washington, leases a 2005 Cadillac for $599 a month.

Mr. Long said that 30 other senators drive their own cars and are reimbursed for mileage. The remaining 10 senators drive cars from the state fleet.

The reason for the policy change? Voter anger spurred by the secretive July 7, 2005, pay raise and the ensuing disclosures about the many generous perks of being a legislator.

Public discontent caused the November defeat of a state Supreme Court justice and the ouster in May of 17 legislators, including the top two senators, Mr. Jubelirer and Majority Leader David Brightbill of Lebanon.

"The members wanted to be responsive to the voters," Mr. Long said. "It was clear the lease arrangements were something the voters didn't like. They favored mileage reimbursement arrangements as they are used to in their own workplace."

The new Senate policy on car leases does not, of course, affect the taxpayer-paid car leases for House members. A legislator there can lease a car at up to $650 a month.

But Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, who doesn't use a state-leased car, wants to see the House conform its policy to the Senate's.

"Once the Senate does it, the House has no choice" but to go along, Mr. Mustio said yesterday.

The House is thinking about it.

"We're working along parallel lines to what the Senate announced. We have been looking into this for months," said Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Sam Smith.

(For a list of Pittsburgh-area House members with car leases, see the accompanying list.)

State Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, who also drives his own car to Harrisburg, said he "applauded the Senate's reforms." He'd also like to see House members and staffers pay a share of their health insurance premiums.

"More and more private companies are doing that with their employees and I think we should be doing the same thing," Mr. Pyle said.

Citizen groups that sprang up in protest a year ago to fight the 16 to 34 percent legislative pay raise yesterday called the Senate moves a good first step.

"This is definitely a step in the right direction, a very positive development," said Eric Epstein of Harrisburg, founder of Rock The Capitol, one of several groups that have protested the pay raise and costly perks that the state provides for legislators, on top of a base salary of $71,000 a year.

"It's good because it brings our legislators one step closer to the financial reality that their constituents face on a day-to-day basis," he said.

Another citizen activist, H. William McIntyre, of Camp Hill, noted that the car-leasing change came almost exactly a year after the middle-of-the-night pay raise last July.

"Today the tables are turned," he said yesterday. "The Senate presented to all Pennsylvania taxpayers a gift one year after giving birth to the infamous pay raise. Thank you, Senate. It's a beginning!"

Last year, Mr. McIntyre wrote to Senate Democratic leader Robert Mellow protesting the pay raise, and Mr. Mellow wrote back, telling the 73-year-old retiree to "get a life."

The Senate Committee on Management Operations, which made the policy change, consists of the nine top leaders of the Senate, five Republicans and four Democrats.

Its makeup will change over time, as various senators leave office and new ones are elected, and no policy the committee makes is permanent. But Mr. Long said that in light of public furor over the pay raise and perks, he doubted that future senators would revert to the taxpayer-paid car leases.