Capitol Close-Up Report: Legislators covering county received $271,947 in expenditures
The costs of paying state legislators and their expenses was only 1.05 percent of the state's $34 billion 2019-20 budget. However, taxpayers were left in the dark on some of those expenses.
In a continuing series kicking off Sunday, the Butler Eagle will examine what is being spent at the state capitol and how the process impacts the budget.
According to nearly 3,000 pages of records released earlier this year, legislators covering Butler County received $271,947 in expense reimbursement between March 26, 2018 and Oct. 10, 2019.
Both the House and Senate produced the expense reports at the request of media outlets, but the reports contained vague descriptions of expenses and redacted portions. Legislative lawyers cited the speech and debate clause in the state Constitution, which affords legislators some privacy as they go about their business.
The total includes expenses for nine representatives and senators who served most or all of that time period.Of this group, Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-60th, received $36,158 in reimbursements, the most of any Butler County legislator, while Rep. Jim Marshall, R-14th, received $18,352, the least among county legislators.Also included are amounts posted by former Rep. Brian Ellis, who resigned in March 2019. The reports also has expenditures by Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, and Sen. Joseph Pittman, R-41st, both who had just been elected, serving only for a few months.Released months ago, the reports initially drew the ire of Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th.“We have to be as transparent as possible with every cent of that money,” he said.
Those examining the requested expense reports found black lines covering whom lawmakers and staff met, and why, in the records.This meant some of the $338 million of the 2018-19 legislature's budget was spent on items that were concealed from taxpayers.In 2019, the legislature's allocation was raised to about $360 million, coinciding with legislators giving themselves a raise.The 203 representatives of the state House and 50 state senators each earned $88,610 in salary. While there is no difference in salary between representatives and senators, the leaders of each of these chambers receives a higher salary.Legislators also receive reimbursements, including mileage, in which they get the maximum federal rate of 58 cents per mile, and expenses that include a $177 per day per diem, also at the maximum federal rate.Legislators are able to list these items as expenses and receive reimbursement from state funds, but are limited to using funds only for legislative business, and each member has an annual spending cap.Bernstine said he felt uncomfortable when the records featured redacted portions.“Fortunately, the House of Representatives changed their rules,” Bernstine said.
During the 20-month window showed by the gathered records, Bernstine had the second highest in expense reimbursements of Butler County's legislators. However, tracking the expenditures showed the amounts tapered down as his term continued.Bernstine, who took office in 2017, said much of the spending early in his first term came from refurnishing his office with needed supplies — items which were returned after former Rep. Jaret Gibbons, a Democrat, left office.He said after that two-year period, it became easier to avoid expenses. He said he also refused other legislative privileges such as a government car and pension.“We've spent only about 50 percent of the allocated dollars over the last two years,” Bernstine said.Following Ellis's departure, Mustello was elected by special election in June of 2019 and, according to the reports, had only $3,967 in listed expenses.Mustello said it has been relatively easy to keep expenses low. She said she was comfortable operating with just two staff members until recently.“I do submit for things we do for the office,” she said. “(But) if staff wants something, I just buy it for them out of pocket.”She said the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to hire a third staffer due to the volume of questions from constituents regarding guidance and orders issued at the state and federal levels.“It's been challenging with the business community, the education community, keeping up with orders from the governor, and keeping up with the volume of calls on various issues,” she said.Mustello said while some legislators may be overstaffed, there are other areas where the government can save money.
In Pennsylvania's $34 billion budget for 2019-20, the state legislature's $360 million allocation accounted for a small slice of the budget pie.“Where is that money going? There are cuts that could be made everywhere,” Mustello said. “There is so much waste in Harrisburg.”The executive branch of the state's government holds a much larger piece of the fiscal pie. For example, the 2019-20 budget, the Department of Health received $203 million and the Department of Education received $13 billion.“All of those agencies have sub agencies, and they all have middle management, staff,” Mustello said.Heather Rice, an associate professor for Slippery Rock University and chairwoman of the political science department, said every year her classes learn about the finances of state and local government.“In general with state and local government there are always places where you can cut, or trim the fat as folks say,” Rice said.Bernstine sees the size of the state legislature as a place to start cutting.In 2018, a proposal called for the reduction of the House of Representatives from 203 to 151 members. Bernstine was in favor of the measure, which never made it to a vote, but the House Appropriations Committee estimated the amendment would have saved the commonwealth $10 million to $15 million per year.“It was probably my most disappointing day in the House of Representatives when that happened,” Bernstine said. “That didn't make me friends among many of my colleagues.”Bernstine also largely favors term limits. For himself, he set a limit of four terms, or eight years, in the House. He said he would be in favor of a term limit in the range of eight to 12 years.“You get in, you do the best job you can, and then you leave. Your goal is to leave with it being a little bit better than you found it.”
Pennsylvania's legislators are ranked as one of the top five highest paid legislators in the nation, according to Ballotpedia and other sources. Are they worth the price?Rice said, although highly paid, the state's lawmakers fill a unique role.“This is their full-time job,” Rice said. “This is what legislators do for a living. They are expected to spend their entire work time crafting legislation or responding to constituents.”In 2019, state legislators introduced 2,460 pieces of legislation, which includes bills and resolutions from both chambers. In the same time frame, state legislators passed 857 pieces of legislation that went to the desk of Gov. Tom Wolf, who exercised his power to sign or veto.“You could say they're paid more in part because they do more,” Rice said.During the 20 months referenced by the expense reports, legislators introduced 2,792 bills and resolutions and passed 1,045 and vetoed 10 items.Rice said the slow nature of government might lead to the perception that not much is being done, but the system is built to be argumentative. It's built to take time and promote debate.“It's designed to find an optimum outcome for a reason, so only the best of the best gets done,” she said.
Mustello said she's experienced this process firsthand.She said one area that could be improved is in regard to resolutions. She said there are resolutions that simply name things, like days and buildings, that could be done in a more timely fashion.“I'm not dismissing it as that, but perhaps there's a better way to streamline these House resolutions,” she said.Rice said another area that could be holding legislators back is the “structural problem” which makes passing a law a lengthy process. She also said the two-party system has created an environment in which compromise is challenging.“In a society where compromise is seen as defeat, it's very difficult to find resolution between two different sides,” Rice said. “Part of it is by design, the other part is a byproduct of the politics of the situation we're in right now.”Mustello said there had been a lack of unification after House Speaker Mike Turzai resigned, a void that has since been filled by Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-100th.She said with new leadership, the House can refocus its efforts and work together, especially as the legislature deals with the state's economy and the pandemic.
