Trip Advisor: legislative edition

In addition to gifts, Pennsylvania law allows lawmakers and public officials to accept trips, travel, and lodging from various sources – as long as they report the activity to the State Ethics Commission and don’t accept such things in exchange for official government actions. 

Otherwise, officials are free to accept underwritten trips and travel expenses paid for by a wide range of interests. City & State has sifted through annual ethics disclosures for 2023, the most recent calendar year, to see where lawmakers traveled to – and why.

Welcome to the Poconos 

A recurring name on Pennsylvania lawmakers’ 2023 Statement of Financial Interest forms was the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, which paid for travel, lodging and hospitality expenses for members of the state House Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development Committee to take a three-day tour of the region. One lawmaker, state Rep. Tom Jones, noted in his disclosure that the bureau’s financial generosity likely saved taxpayers money: “Food, lodging and transportation was underwritten by the local visitors bureau rather than being reimbursed ... with taxpayer funds.” Another disclosure from state Rep. Regina Young listed Kalahari Resort – a ​​220,000-square-foot indoor waterpark resort in Pocono Manor – as an underwritten destination, so state lawmakers may have gotten a bit wet and wild in the Poconos.

An Election Expedition

At least four lawmakers in the state House had trips underwritten by the Institute for Research on Presidential Elections, a California-based organization that conducts seminars, conferences, debates and other events to educate community leaders and policymakers on how the U.S. elects presidents. According to a report from political journalist Tim Alberta, who attended an IRPE event in 2017, the IRPE “peddles a controversial idea: that state legislatures can put the popular-vote winner in the White House.” At the very least, it’s an idea to keep an eye on.

Trips To Taiwan

Four lawmakers in 2023 received trips to Taiwan paid for by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, which is based in New York. The lawmakers included three Republicans – state Reps. David Rowe, Robert Leadbeter and state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, as well as Democratic state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara. The cost of their trips, covered by the office, came out to $8,799, $8,799, $8,799 and $4,659 for Rowe, Leadbeter, Pennycuick and O’Mara, respectively. In floor remarks to the Pennsylvania Senate this year, Pennycuick recalled her trip to Taiwan fondly: “Last year, I had the honor to visit Taiwan on a mission to strengthen our economic ties,” she said. “Though geographically, Pennsylvania and Taiwan could not be further apart, we recognize the deep cultural and economic connections our people share. Our community values of democracy and self-determination seem to shrink the thousands of miles separating our homelands.”

Choice trips

Proponents of school choice policies often speak of the importance of letting students and parents choose the best option for their individual interests. In 2023, Pennsylvania lawmakers had plenty of options themselves as they attended a few different school choice-related events across the country. GOP state Sen. Ryan Aument had transportation, lodging and hospitality underwritten by the Tallahassee, Florida-based Foundation for Excellence in Education, which supports “education choice” policies according to its website. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler and House GOP Policy Committee Chair Joshua Kail reported travel and lodging costs related to an education policy conference hosted by the American Federation for Children Growth Fund, another school choice group. Several other lawmakers had trips and related expenses paid for by EdChoice, a school choice nonprofit.