Price of Politics: Pa. lawmakers spend millions during pandemic in meals, lodging, gas, and car leases | FOX43 Capitol Beat
State legislators collected over $1 million alone in per diems, non-taxable, no receipt expenses designed for meals and lodging when lawmakers are on business trips. Author: Matt Maisel (FOX43) Updated: 10:54 PM EDT May 25, 2021
HARRISBURG, Pa. During a year when many Pennsylvanians were forced to cut costs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, state lawmakers collected and spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money on gas, state-issued cars, and perk known as per diems.
Per diem, which comes from the latin phrase each day, are payments lawmakers can elect to receive at the start of the legislative year. They are mostly tax-free, and are designed to be used for meals and lodging when state representatives and senators are on official business.