From the editorial page of The Pottstown Mercury:
THORNS
to Pennsylvania legislators who continue to fleece beleaguered
taxpayers with a practice known as per diems, a
constitutionally-questionable system where lawmakers submit unvouchered
expenses for meals and lodging on top of their generous salaries. An
investigation by reporters Brad Bumsted and Mike Wereschagin of the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review found that lawmakers increase their requests
for reimbursement dramatically as the state fiscal year comes to a close
each June. In other words, lawmakers want to make sure they don't
leave any scraps behind as they empty the cupboards before heading on
their annual three-month vacations. During a five-day period in 2012
when House leaders spent $64,000 on catered meals, legislators still
claimed $105,000 in per diems, according to state records compiled by
the Tribune-Review. In 2011, House leaders bought almost $23,000 in
food over three days but members claimed nearly $60,000 in per diems,
records show. How much catered food can these "public servants"
possibly consume? "The bank gets robbed every day with these guys," Joe
Poniewaz, 66, a retired Pittsburgh police officer, told the newspaper.
If history is any guide, legislators will spend more money on
themselves this month — about $400,000 — than any other in 2013, the
newspaper reported. Pennsylvania legislators have a base salary of
$83,802. That's twice as much as the average taxpayer is bringing home.
And that's more than enough to cover their lavish meals without having
to stick taxpayers with the bill.
Roses to cleanup volunteers and local growers
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