Pa. House Members Use Per Diem To Buy Houses
Pennsylvania state representatives who don't live within 50 miles of Harrisburg are eligible for a $163 per diem when in the state capital on legislative business. The money is supposed to be used for food and board -- $111 for housing and $52 for meals.
It turns out some of members of our legislature are using it to solve the housing crisis.
Now you might wonder why our representatives need the stipend since they are already getting a base pay of $78,000 along with a lot of really great benefits, but that would just show your insensitivity and intolerance to the important work they do.
For a list of other houses being bought by House members see this story from the Scranton Times-Tribune.
For solution to the problem, see this.
Kudos to Nathan Benefield of Commwealth Foundation for the tip.
It turns out some of members of our legislature are using it to solve the housing crisis.
For instance Jim Wansacz (D-114), rather than stay at hotels, bought a three-story row home at314 S. Second St. on Oct. 2, 2003, for $72,000, and is using the per diem to pay off his 30-year mortgage. Pretty clever.
He acknowledges he also rents to other legislators.Now you might wonder why our representatives need the stipend since they are already getting a base pay of $78,000 along with a lot of really great benefits, but that would just show your insensitivity and intolerance to the important work they do.
For a list of other houses being bought by House members see this story from the Scranton Times-Tribune.
For solution to the problem, see this.
Kudos to Nathan Benefield of Commwealth Foundation for the tip.
I frequently had Per Diem or Reasonable and Actual in private industry, and the PD was always below the R&A costs for room and board. As noted, you can get PD without receipts, whereas R&A requires them, along with the attendant logging and reporting. Looks to me that our vaunted 'leaders' are skimming the trough! That said, I have no problem with their purchase of investment properties, but I believe the IRS regs stipulate you can only claim it as a Rental Property if you yourself live there for less than 30 Days per year.
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