It's a lawmaker's job to work hard. After all, it's taxpayer money in their paychecks. 💰🧑⚖️ Do you know what else your money pays for? Mileage reimbursements. 🚗
While it's legal to submit mileage expenses for work-related travel, your eyes might bug out Wendy Williams style at some of these numbers. 😳 Let's take a look at what these "road warriors" are taking home in the name of driving for the job. 🕵️
Here’s Five Fast Facts on what PA lawmakers get in travel reimbursements:
- 🛣️ On the Road Again - Some Keystone State lawmakers have quite the drive to the State Capitol in Harrisburg. According to the GPS app Waze, it's a 300 mile drive from Erie. State Representative Pat Harkins (D) has been representing Erie since 2007 and *literally* goes the extra mile to attend every event he's invited to.
- 🚘 Driving for Dollars - Harkins also makes sure every mile driven around PA is accounted for. According to a right-to-know request from 2018 to the present, Harkins received $154,686.97 in taxpayer-funded mileage reimbursements, including $30,530.64 in 2019. Um, wow.
- 🤔 What's the Difference - Harkins isn't the only one making the trek from Erie. Democrats Ryan Bizzarro and Bob Merski also represent the area. In 2021, Merski had a mileage reimbursement of $6,731.16. Bizzaro’s reimbursements totaled $4,322.64. However, in the same year, Harkins had $23,224.66 in reimbursements. Why the discrepancy? Harkins says it's due to "increased travel as committee chairman and his 24/7 commitment."
- ❌ Not a Dime - Senator Dan Laughlin (R) is also from Erie and serves as a committee chairman. Laughlin billed zero miles at all during his first four years. He now only charges for the trip to and from Harrisburg. Contrast that with Harkins, who bills in district miles.
- ⬆️ Rockin' Raise - Pennsylvania state lawmakers also recently got a pay increase, bumping their salary to $106,000 a year.
🔥Bottom line: Look, driving 300 miles from Erie to Harrisburg is a pretty decent hike. Many other professions allow their employees to reimburse mileage if they're driving on the job. However, some people do game this kind of system. Not saying Harkins is a gamer, but he is padding his paycheck with a lot of extra taxpayer dollars. Whatever your opinion is on the matter, it's important to know what your hard earned money is paying for!
Do you think these mileage reimbursements are justified?
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