It’s Easy Out Here For A Lawmaker

A story in Sunday’s Inquirer by Mario Cattabiani detailed the fun thing about being a Pennsylvania legislator: Tons and tons of free shit. And not just from taxpayers! (Ba-ZING!)

The article details all the free stuff legislators can get from lobbyists: unlimited skiing, FOP courtesy cards to get out of tickets, circus tickets — this sounds like a drawback, not a perk — Penn State football tix, and, most fun, all-access passes for movie theaters from Sunday to Thursday.

Pennsylvania is the only state that doesn’t require lobbyists to disclose what they’re giving to lawmakers, so who knows what else they’re getting? Legislators only have to declare gifts of above $250.

Although I think the free movie passes are quite a deal, apparently they’re not that popular:

David Tive, the theater owners’ lobbyist, who has personally handed out the passes for two decades, said he occasionally heard from appreciative legislators. But, he added, the passes are not as popular as one might imagine. “Maybe they would be used more,” he said, “if we gave them a popcorn pass, too.”

Yeah, that’s just what we need: Fatter lawmakers.

Office has its perks in Penna. [Inky]