Pa. Officials Report More Than $160K In Gifts, Travel In '14

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Newly filed state ethics reports show Pennsylvania state lawmakers and other high-ranking government officials collected more than $160,000 in freebies last year, including sports tickets and international travel, although about half the total involved donations for constituent events such as senior expos, veterans fairs and prescription drug collections.

The statements of financial interest forms for state lawmakers, Supreme Court justices and executive branch officials documented free or subsidized travel to such destinations as Israel, Alaska, Las Vegas, Rome, Taiwan and Puerto Rico, along with restaurant meals, luxury box seats at concerts and assorted gifts.

State Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, reported $4,000 in free tickets to the Philadelphia Zoo and another $1,200 in tickets to see the 76ers play, which he distributed in his district, along with $300 in luxury box seats from the mayor's office for his wife to see a Beyonce concert and a pair of luxury box tickets at the Eagles-Cowboys game in December.

Harris said the Eagles tickets from utility giant Peco were part of an event that also included dinner and a workshop, Harris said.

"They do dinners and they bring in different presenters to talk about different legislative issues," said Harris. "I think they provide these types of things all the time."

Pennsylvania does not place a limit on how much public officials can accept, but it requires them to report gifts worth more than $250, and when meals, hospitality or travel from a single source amounts to at least $650 in a given year.

Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, said his six-day trip to Taiwan, paid for by that country's government, involved trade, educational exchanges and tourism — as well as some sightseeing.

"Did they take me to a mall, did they take me to places they are very proud of? Of course. Did they take me to the museum of Chinese art? Yes," Dinniman said. "Did they want to talk about tourism? Of course, both ways. Did they want to talk about constraints to trade, from the U.S. and individual states, in relationship to what is going on? Of course."

Gov. Tom Corbett, who left office in January, noted on his ethics form that nearly $7,000 in airfare and other travel costs and about $400 in gifts from a March trip to Italy were related to this year's visit by Pope Francis and to economic development efforts. Corbett said a $250 vase from the Taiwanese ambassador would become state property, but did not indicate what he planned to do with $288 worth of free cigars from a store in York.

His successor, Gov. Tom Wolf, took office in January and reported no gifts or travel in 2014. The ethics act requires candidates for certain offices, including governor, to file reports.

Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny, attached a legal analysis to his report that indicated the free tickets he gets as chairman of the Sports and Exhibition Authority are not required to be reported under the Ethics Act.

Fontana said he sometimes gives away the passes to one of their suites, but when he goes himself it usually feels more like work.

"You do what you're supposed to do," he said. "That's the point — I'm the chair, so that's what I do."

Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia, spent a day talking policy and strategy in New York City with the International Cannabis Association, an event he valued at $499.

Four members of the state Supreme Court reported attending the Pennsylvania Bar Association's midyear conference in the Caribbean island of St. Thomas in January 2014: Max Baer, Ron Castille, Tom Saylor and Debra Todd. Saylor and Todd valued it at $3,200 and $3,600, respectively, while Baer said the value was unknown and Castille estimated it at more than $1,500.

Other items that lawmakers and other officials reported include a $900 gun from a Friends of the NRA raffle, Philadelphia Orchestra tickets, free parking near a district office, an Erie Yacht club membership, a bus trip for seniors to visit the Capitol, a season ski pass and turkeys, toys and Christmas trees to give away to constituents.

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