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Pennsylvania State Representative Michael Peifer (R-Pike) was listed in a recently published news article among five local state lawmakers who own housing in the Harrisburg area and also took per diems.
A per diem (Latin for ”one every day”) is a daily allowance for expenses such as lodging, meals and incidental expenses. The per diem rate for a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania was limited up to $163, as of October 2009. $111 is allocated for lodging and $52 is set for meals and incidental expenses.
Money for per diems is taxpayer-provided, with the rates being established by the Internal Revenue Service, depending on the locality.
The Rules of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 2009-2010 do not identify for what type of lodging the funds can be used. The rules do state that those who live within 50 miles of Harrisburg are not eligible to receive a per diem. However, this does not apply to temporary or secondary residences within the 50 miles of the State Capitol.
“The fact is, if we are there overnight, I take a per diem for housing and meal allowance that is established by the I.R.S.,” said Rep. Peifer. “I think if you look at my per diems, they’re probably on the low end,” he said, when compared to other legislators. Rep. Peifer took $4,755 in 30 per diems over a three-month period, from July 1 to October 9, the majority of which was taken during the State Budget impasse.
Rep. Peifer said he needed a place where he could sleep comfortably, and which helps to add stability to his life in Harrisburg. “In my first year in office, I spent three months in an apartment in Harrisburg,” which he said he paid for himself. After three months of loud neighbors, barking dogs and no parking, he spent the next nine months staying in five different hotels in the Harrisburg area. Because of the hectic work schedule in the State Capitol, Rep. Peifer said he sometimes found himself driving around Harrisburg in the middle of the night, trying to find a hotel where he can sleep.
Eventually Rep. Peifer and Rep. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) decided to each put money down on a house away from the busy inner city of Harrisburg. “I took, at closing, $19,000 and change of my own money, and bought a house. The down-payment was all my money, as well as Rep. Mario Scavello. He put $19,000 down too,” said Rep. Peifer.
“I’ve since then put $10,000 into the house for some improvements, as far as rugs, painting and landscaping, and even a bed,” he said. “I have $30,000 of my own money invested into this house.”
“I don’t rent my house out to anyone. I’ve never rented it to anyone. I live there,” he said. “When we have a 100-day-impasse, I live there.”
“If I can come and do my job everyday in my district, I’d be the happiest man alive,” he said, “but I am required to go to Harrisburg and I have to be there to vote, and that’s my job.”
Pennsylvania State Representative Michael Peifer (R-Pike) was listed in a recently published news article among five local state lawmakers who own housing in the Harrisburg area and also took per diems.
A per diem (Latin for ”one every day”) is a daily allowance for expenses such as lodging, meals and incidental expenses. The per diem rate for a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania was limited up to $163, as of October 2009. $111 is allocated for lodging and $52 is set for meals and incidental expenses.
Money for per diems is taxpayer-provided, with the rates being established by the Internal Revenue Service, depending on the locality.
The Rules of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 2009-2010 do not identify for what type of lodging the funds can be used. The rules do state that those who live within 50 miles of Harrisburg are not eligible to receive a per diem. However, this does not apply to temporary or secondary residences within the 50 miles of the State Capitol.
“The fact is, if we are there overnight, I take a per diem for housing and meal allowance that is established by the I.R.S.,” said Rep. Peifer. “I think if you look at my per diems, they’re probably on the low end,” he said, when compared to other legislators. Rep. Peifer took $4,755 in 30 per diems over a three-month period, from July 1 to October 9, the majority of which was taken during the State Budget impasse.
Rep. Peifer said he needed a place where he could sleep comfortably, and which helps to add stability to his life in Harrisburg. “In my first year in office, I spent three months in an apartment in Harrisburg,” which he said he paid for himself. After three months of loud neighbors, barking dogs and no parking, he spent the next nine months staying in five different hotels in the Harrisburg area. Because of the hectic work schedule in the State Capitol, Rep. Peifer said he sometimes found himself driving around Harrisburg in the middle of the night, trying to find a hotel where he can sleep.
Eventually Rep. Peifer and Rep. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) decided to each put money down on a house away from the busy inner city of Harrisburg. “I took, at closing, $19,000 and change of my own money, and bought a house. The down-payment was all my money, as well as Rep. Mario Scavello. He put $19,000 down too,” said Rep. Peifer.
“I’ve since then put $10,000 into the house for some improvements, as far as rugs, painting and landscaping, and even a bed,” he said. “I have $30,000 of my own money invested into this house.”
“I don’t rent my house out to anyone. I’ve never rented it to anyone. I live there,” he said. “When we have a 100-day-impasse, I live there.”
“If I can come and do my job everyday in my district, I’d be the happiest man alive,” he said, “but I am required to go to Harrisburg and I have to be there to vote, and that’s my job.”
