CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
Susan Spicka led a brown bag brigade on the steps of the Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg Thursday afternoon. It was a paper protest of Republican state Rep. Rob Kauffman's use of partial per diems.
"Thirty-four thousand dollars in taxpayer money for lunch!" Spicka shouted in mock horror.
Spicka is Kauffman's Democratic challenger in the November election for the House seat in Franklin and Cumberland counties. She says Kauffman took a partial per diem, $52 a day for lawmakers within 50 miles of the Capitol, on the day in 2005 that he was sworn in.
She produced paperwork showing that in the nearly eight years since, Kauffman has collected $34,181 in partial per diems, meals and mileage reimbursement. It is tax-free money.
"Some of these legislators live in a bubble where you get an automatic pay raise and $52 a day for lunch," Spicka said. "It's really difficult that they don't see the fact that there are hard working people struggling to hang onto their homes and struggling to pay their bills."
"They're legitimate expenses and they're very reasonable and conservative," Kauffman said from his Chambersburg district office two blocks from the square. "I work hard. I do the best I can for the people of my district and my family on a daily basis. I'm not going to apologize for that."
Chambersburg is 50 miles from the Capitol. It's about an hour by car each way. Gas isn't cheap. There no doubt are expenses incurred in making the trip to Harrisburg. But Republican state Sen. Rich Alloway goes the same distance and does basically the same job and doesn't collect per diems.
Alloway did not return a call seeking comment on why he doesn't collect per diems. Most midstate lawmakers, though technically entitled, refrain from taking the partial per diems.
"Everybody has different situations," Kauffman said. "I have four kids and a wife that are supported on my salary. I am a full-time legislator. No other income comes to my home."
In a district where Democrats are outnumbered nearly 2-to-1 by Republicans, Spicka's hoping her brown bag will help her sack an incumbent. She promises not to take a partial per diem or mileage reimbursement if elected.
"I don't need taxpayers to pay for my gas with an $82,000 a year salary," she said. "That seems like plenty enough money to pay for my gas."
Spicka is the wife of a Shippensburg University history professor. Kauffman dismisses her brown bag assault as a gimmick and her politics as out-of-touch with the conservative area.
"My opponent uses these shenanigans to distract from her liberal agenda," he said.
