To The Editor,
I am often asked what I mean when I say Harrisburg must be held accountable. Where to start is a better question. There are a lot of areas where this applies but let’s start with one of the easiest to identify. I want to end the practice of paying per diems to our legislators for the days that they are in Harrisburg. (Per diems are a daily food and lodging expense allowance that is made available to lawmakers who must travel more than 50 miles to Harrisburg or an event.)
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures PA Representatives were provided a per diem of $159 per day in 2015. Receipts are not required to receive this payment, so spending less than the per diem rate means they can pocket the difference.
Legislators should be reimbursed for their legitimate expenses that are properly filed. That is what is done in business and that is what should be done in Harrisburg. Instead, some legislators use per diems as a way to boost their salaries at taxpayer expense. I do not believe that is serving the people of Pennsylvania ethically or with integrity. I want to hold Harrisburg accountable and so, if I am elected, I will join with other legislators who are working to move legislation that requires legislators to submit receipts and be reimbursed for those expenses. I will also post my monthly expenses on my legislative website for the public to see, holding me accountable as well.
Susan Rzucidlo
Candidate PA House
158th District
New Garden
Yes, because, of course, accountability is bad. Especially for elected officials — a number of whom have used per diems to pad their salary, with what is already the most expensive legislature in the nation.
Way to look out for the taxpayers!
Someone has to make sure those receipts are valid! We’ll need to create the new Department of Expense Report Examination with forms, procedures, policy and adjudication. What a great idea Susan – spend a dollar on additional government bureaucracy to save a dime on per diem reimbursements. Or maybe we should realize that per diem reimbursement has its flaws, but still is the most efficient way to reimburse legislators for expenses incurred while performing their job.
Keith,
I should have been more clear in my letter. There is already a department in Harrisburg that processes per diems. Legislators who take them must submit a request to be paid each per diem. There is already paperwork being processed to pay a flat rate. Why wouldn’t we want to only reimburse for actual expenses? According to the Morning Call article pasted below, at the time if its publication, “the house was on track to spend roughly $3.4 million in per diems for 2013-14.” To me that seems like a great place to start cutting the cost of government to taxpayers.
http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/legislator-expense-reports/mc-pa-legislature-spending-per-diems-20141116-story.html