Philadelphia Inquirer on Pa. legislators boost their pay day by day by...

Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/23/2006 | Pa. legislators boost their pay day by day by... Pa. legislators boost their pay day by day by...
Three lawmakers used the generous $141 per diem to collect more than $46,000 each over the last two years.

By Mario F. Cattabiani, Inquirer Staff Writer

Per diem means 'by the day' in Latin.

State Rep. Gaynor Cawley (D., Lackawanna) speaks it fluently.

So do Reps. Christopher Sainato (D., Lawrence) and Mark Cohen (D., Phila.).

Over the last two years, the three lawmakers each have collected more than $46,000 in per diems - flat payments given to lawmakers for meals and lodging while on official duty.

That's tops among the state's 253 legislators, and about double what the average House and Senate member collects, an Inquirer review of expense records shows.

Another great article.