Pa. politicians stuff their faces at the public trough

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