Local State Legislators Report $14,800 in Travel in Annual Ethics Form

Schlossberg putting in his face

A Pennsylvania legislator is paid $88,610 a year, and this is aside from the health benefits and per diems claimed for "expenses." But you know, it's really hard to get by on such a pittance. So many of our lawmakers have other sources of income. They also can accept gifts and trips, but those have to be reported in annual ethics forms. Last year, Pennsylvania's men and women in the land of midnight payraises report having received $83,000 in free trips. Guess what? Nearly $15k of that money was paid by third parties for our very own Lehigh Valley delegation.

You might think that State Senator Pat Browne or Lisa Boscola are the jet setters, but no. Neither accepted any gifts or trips. Browne did supplement his income through his CPA and law firm, and Boscola has some kind of investment portfolio. Both steered clear of firms willing to pay for travel.

The biggest recipient of paid trips was Ryan MacKenzie. By the way, in addition to his salary as a State Representative, he receives money from PNC Bank. He is also a trustee for with for-profit corporation F.A. Rohrbach, a concrete contractor.

He may be wary of Greeks bearing gifts, but accepted a $5,847.37 trip from the U.S.Japan Foundation and a $6,215 trip from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

I wonder when he found time for his two-week run for Congress.

Of course, there's always Mike "Darth Voter" Schlossberg.  He took $1,040 for transportation, lodging and hospitality from State Innovation Exchange (Six), a self-described progressive nonprofit that apparently offers training to state legislators on how to be a liberal.

Not to be outdone, Pete Schweyer reports a gift of $1,703 from Sleep Inn and Suites, which he states is the difference between the advertised rate and one he negotiated.

Zach Mako reports no gifts or trips, but had to amend his report because he forgot to report that he is paid as a State Representative. Not too bright, that one. 

Steve Samuelson is claiming no gifts or all-expense paid trips. What about those adult diapers, Steve? We all have the videos. 

Marcia Hahn took no gifts or trips, but she should contact her State Rep. She's paying outrageous interest on her Sam's credit card.

Joe Emrick reports no outside income or gifts, but claims to be a trustee with Cornerstone Counseling Ministries, which provides Christian counseling. Based on his ugly campaign against Amy Cozze, he should enroll as a client.

Gary Day reports no outside income or gifts. He's from Germansville, and they pay each other there with pigs and chickens.

In addition to her income as a State Rep., Jeanne McNeill rakes in a nice rental income from six different homes. She has a real estate empire. She is also collecting three pensions and still has time for Mary Kay sales. .

Bob Freeman is an Adjunct Professor at Lehigh, and also collects rent from a property he owns in
Easton.

Update 8:40 am: Jeanne McNeill tells me she has one summer home in Jersey.which was rented out six times last year.