Taxpayers foot bill to supply legislators, army of aides
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — It takes hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to maintain what is one of the country’s largest legislative staffs. A new Associated Press review reveals the Legislature’s appetite for food, shelter, transportation, office supplies and computer equipment. The examination of invoices and more than 6,000 pages of spending line items by the state’s legislative branch last year found lawmakers often use the latitude their own rules provide to decide what to buy and from whom. Examples of their spending include custom framing, food and drink, high-end furniture, video equipment and computers.