Pennsylvania Legislators Flying a Too-Friendly Sky?

From the Philadelphia Weekly Press:

Between 2007 and 2009, Pennsylvania’s state legislators spent $52,564.80 on flights within the state and to special legislative conferences and presentations around the country. Some waited until the day beforehand to book their flights, and some lacked receipts for flights costing hundreds of dollars.

Of the 59 state legislators who requested reimbursement, more than $42,000 was spent by 42 Democrats in the House and Senate, and 17 Republicans spent a little under $12,300.

State legislators are granted daily per diems and expense reimbursements as part of their compensation package, but oversight and control of transportation spending for state legislators is limited, at best.

According to state Senate rules, “travel allowances or reimbursements may be paid to a Member who is engaged in travel in the performance of legislative duties,” but what constitutes legislative activity is unclear, such as how many legislative conferences a member may attend in a single year or what counts as a legislative conference. House rules are even less clear, with members’ trips being decided on a case-by-case basis.

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