Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 13

Pennsylvania legislators' expenses hitting the Web

By Brad Bumsted
STATE CAPITOL REPORTER

More state lawmakers are using the Internet to list expenses such as per diems, state-paid vehicles and office rent.

Freshman Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, got things started in January, when he posted quarterly reports on his Web site.

Since then, six Republican lawmakers, including freshman Rep. Randy Vulakovich, of Shaler, have started listing monthly expenses online. Rep. Jim Marshall, R-Big Beaver, another newcomer, said he will start doing so in May.

"I think it should be open so people can see what we spend," Vulakovich said.

Such voluntary disclosures would have been unheard of a year or two ago, said Jack Treadway, a political science professor at Kutztown University in Berks County and an author of a book on state elections.

It's an outgrowth of the taxpayers' revolt after the 2005 legislative pay raise. Voter anger led to its repeal that November and the defeat and retirement of dozens of incumbents last year. Many freshmen lawmakers elected in November campaigned on reform issues.

For years, paper expense records only have been available for public inspection in Harrisburg. The House voted last month to make future records available by e-mail when requesting from the chief clerk.

"With the rules change, I think everyone will do it," said Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-York County, elected in 2002. Gillespie said he will post his soon.

In February, Vulakovich collected five per diems totaling $740 for nights he stayed in Harrisburg. The $148 per diem is intended to cover food and lodging. His state-paid vehicle lease was $290, and his district office lease was $1,600, according to his online report.

Other lawmakers posting their expenses online are from Lancaster and York counties, areas where the pay raise was a hot issue and which are within an hour's drive of the Capitol.

"My guess is they won't be doing this in Philadelphia," where voters showed little interest in the pay issue, Treadway said.

Rep. John Bear, R-Lancaster County, said he's doing it "because it is a promise I made during the campaign." He is not charging taxpayers for a car, per diems or a cell phone. "I always drive home," he said.

Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County, does not charge the state for mileage or per diems. He lives 56 miles from the Capitol. Cutler said his constituents ask, "I don't get paid to drive to work. Why should you?"

Last year, it was revealed that several defeated lawmakers within a short drive from the Capitol collected thousands of dollars in per diems as they were leaving office.

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