Brian Ellis

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania state legislators flew to foreign lands, cheered on pro sports teams from the stands and even paid some criminal defense legal bills last year without having to crack open their own wallets.

Lawmakers collected about $22,000 in gifts and $89,000 in subsidized travel in 2007, according to an Associated Press analysis of their annual Statement of Financial Interests forms. The forms were due at the State Ethics Commission on Thursday.

Free or partially free travel took them to Ireland, Poland, Taiwan, Mexico, Las Vegas and beyond. They reaped free tickets to watch Penn State's football team and NASCAR races in the Poconos, not to mention the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and 76ers.

State Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th, of Butler was one of three state representatives who took a six-day trip in February 2007 to Ireland and Poland to meet with government officials, tour economic development sites and view the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

The trip was funded by the Taxpayers Network, an organization based in Green Bay, Wis. David Steffen, its director of external affairs, said its public policy initiatives include global trade, economic development and taxation issues.

The Taxpayers Network annually compares all 50 states' taxes and economic policy with foreign nations' policies, looking for areas to improve.

"Not one single dollar of taxpayers' money was used to fund this trip," said Ellis.

He was joined on the trip by Rep. C. Adam Harris, R-Juniata, Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny and nine representatives from other states.

Ellis said he was contacted after state Sen. John Pippy, R-Allegheny County, was unable to attend because of a prior obligation and suggested Ellis to the Network.

In Ireland, the group met with the country's finance director, who discussed Ireland's cut of corporate business taxes, once among the highest in the world.

"That was most rewarding. You lower corporate business taxes and businesses will relocate there. That is what I want for Pennsylvania," Ellis said.

Additionally, the legislators discussed with the finance director the benefits of consolidating services in Ireland's counties, the country's equivalent of states.

"There were great benefits to be gained by consolidating schools, fire departments and other organizations with problems similar to those we have in Pennsylvania.," Ellis said.

In another report, three Democratic state representatives reported windfalls from gambling.

Flo Fabrizio of Erie County said he and his wife played the slots and ate dinner at Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie. On one outing, his 75-cent slots bet hit a $1,500 jackpot.

"I put it in the bank," he said. "We have one rule: If we're losing, we walk out very quickly, and if we're winning, we walk out very quickly."

Frank Andrews Shimkus of Lackawanna County won twice at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y., collecting about $7,000 over two weeks in February.

Frank Oliver of Philadelphia said he was unsure of the details of his winnings, but his form listed income from both the Showboat casino in Atlantic City, N.J., and the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Two senators facing criminal charges disclosed legal defense funds: Bob Regola, R-Westmoreland, and Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia.

Fumo, awaiting trial on federal corruption charges, said his Phoenix Trust's "blind" structure keeps him from knowing the donors or amounts, but Regola named 24 donors — some consisting of more than one person — who pitched in $13,375.

The Legislature's $111,000 total for freebies does not include thousands of dollars in donations that legislators reported receiving from businesses to help pay for events such as senior expos and a Korean War veterans recognition ceremony. Most lawmakers reported no gifts or travel.

Ed Biller, Eagle staff writer, contributed to this report.