Posted on 11/18/2005 6:54:01 AM PST by Born Conservative
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The state lawmaker pay raises is history, but in an 8 On Your Side investigation, News 8 found some Susquehanna Valley lawmakers taking home much more than their salary -- thousands of dollars more.
It's money that some people say the lawmakers shouldn't be taking. Some lawmakers from the Susquehanna Valley take home $129 a day, on top of their salary, just for showing up to work.
The money is called a per diem. It's a set rate lawmakers are paid to cover expenses -- no receipts needed, no questions asked.
In the House, the amount is $129. In the Senate, it's $128. The money covers meals, but mostly it's intended for overnight lodging to help lawmakers who live far from Harrisburg.
After checking the records though, News 8 found a number of local lawmakers who take the full amount, adding up to thousands of dollars a year.
Even though they can commute to Harrisburg, senators Gibson Armstrong, Noah Wenger, Terry Punt and David Brightbill all take the money.
In the House, News 8 found representatives Patrick Fleagle, Gordon Denlinger and Gibson Armstrong Jr. taking part.
"Consider the magnitude of the decisions our constituents are asking us to make," said Armstrong.
Lancaster County's Armstrong has taken the money on 49 days so far this year. His home, off Route 222 near Strasburg, is about 50 miles from the Capitol. Fifty miles is the point where lawmakers can technically take the per diem, even if they're not spending the night in Harrisburg.
News 8 asked Armstrong about it in an interview on another topic. He said he needed time to prepare for questions but then decided not to go on camera after all.
"It's an hour-and-20-minute run each way," Denlinger said of his drive to Harrisburg.
Denlinger, also from Lancaster County, has taken a per diem 58 times so far this year. He agreed to talk to News 8.
"Well, I track my expenses in serving very closely, and it does roughly equal out to expenses. It's not some kind of salary enhancement. It ends up balancing itself out," Denlinger said.
To further clarify what the per diem is, it is not used to cover gas or tolls to get to and from Harrisburg. Lawmakers get that refunded separately. And they can get a car lease paid for as well. The per diem is just supposed to be for living costs. News 8's Ben Simmoneau asked Denlinger about that.
Simmoneau: "You take that per diem when you don't spend the night in Harrisburg?"
Denlinger: "I have because it balances itself out over time."
Neither Denlinger nor Armstrong could tell News 8 how often they spend the night in Harrisburg.
Simmoneau: "Is it once a week? Is it once a month? Is it..."
Denlinger: "Frequently. I would put it at frequently."
Fleagle, the third local House member who takes the money, also could not tell News 8 how often he spends the night. News 8 tried calling the four senators, Brightbill, Punt, Armstrong and Wenger. They did not want to talk about the practice.
The rules say lawmakers are also not supposed to double dip if they take a per diem. But on several days this year, News 8 found both Armstrong and Denlinger also getting reimbursed for meals on days they collected $129. Those meals ranged from just $2.99 to $67 for Armstrong. For Denlinger it was $13 to $76. Denlinger said it is not double dipping.
"I submit for that when constituents want to sit down and talk to me over an issue of importance to them," Denlinger said.
Denlinger also said that he thinks the system is in bad shape and it is time for an overhaul to "move us into the 21st Century and line us up with business, where the business community is."
Critics say that is unlikely to happen.
There is a lower per diem rate available -- designed to cover just meals. Some local lawmakers opt to take that.
It's also important to point out that some local lawmakers do not take any per diems.
Wait'll they investigate and find ot how many put in for it on days when they don't show up! Boston has the same process, and they abuse it more than Pa's reps could imagine.
Just think of the difference between PA and NH legislators. Ours in NH get $100 a year plus mileage for the commute. Even Senators share small offices and House members (General Court) get cubicles like those in Libraries. I do believe though that Federal tax law provides for special exemptions for State Legislators amounting to around $150 per day. So if one has other income (one better if one is from NH) then the exemption is worth from $25 to about $60 a day in tax avoidance.
Gee, I get that PER HOUR when I "just show up"
"Wait'll they investigate and find ot how many put in for it on days when they don't show up! Boston has the same process, and they abuse it more than Pa's reps could imagine."
ROFHWL! Don't kid yourself. "Ghost voting" is a time-honored tradition in PA, along with 2 am shennigan votes. :)
"Per diem" is just the tip of the iceberg in Harrisburg and this article was either written by a naive cub reporter or is a "hit piece" targeting "certain" reps, as it studiously avoids the hi-jinks of "the big boys". ;)
DEMOCRATS(Rinos)? <<- (Eddie Murphy laugh)
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