Pennsylvania state legislators have to be in Harrisburg on business on many days of the year. Those who live more than 50 miles from the capital are able to cash in on unvouchered reimbursements for food and lodging.
The Pennsylvania State Senate.pennlive.com file photo
The payments are called “per diems,” and eligible legislators may claim $175 a day (the rate for most of 2016) for every day the Legislature is in session. Legally, it doesn’t matter whether a recipient spends any or all of the $175 on the purpose for which it is intended. Lawmakers operate on an honor system — and the auditor general is prohibited by law from investigating to see where the money goes.
As Nick Falsone of lehighvalleylive.com reports, state Sen. Pat Brown of Allentown was the leading user of per diems in the upper chamber last year, spending $19,833. Browne says he needs the reimbursements for stay-overs and meals because, as Appropriations Committee chairman, he is required to be in Harrisburg for many long work days, sometimes up to 15 hours. His one-way commute from home to work is about 90 minutes.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola of Bethlehem claimed $10,238 in per diems in 2016. Overall the state Senate received $185,000 last year in these payments.
What do you think? Should the state Legislature get rid of this system? Should lawmakers who live farther than 50 miles away have access to a simplified, unvouchered reimbursement? Have a say in our informal poll, and feel free to join the conversation in the comments section.
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