PA-18: GOP Nominee Spent $430K from Tax-funded Expense Account

[RandySF]

Expense records show that Rick Saccone (R), who is running in the upcoming Pennsylvania special election for Congress, spent $435,172 in taxpayer money using his expense account in his first seven years as a state lawmaker, The Intercept reports.

“Pennsylvania provides state lawmakers with generous salaries and expense policies, allowing them to bill the government for activities they deem as necessary for their job… But Saccone’s profligate use of the legislative expense account may come as a surprise. He was elected in 2010 during the tea party wave on a pledge to cut government spending.”



https://theintercept.com/2018/02/01/rick-saccone-congress-pennsylvania/

[Gothmog]

1. That will not play well in this special election

[NCDem777]

2. Let's hope Lamb starts pummeling him

There's gotta be some clips of this douche ranting and raving about how "we just gotta cut spending because there's no money!"

[PA Democrat]

3. His campaign signs use the slogan "defending the taxpayer"

[ProudLib72]

6. Defriending the taxpayer?

Think of the fun someone could have with those signs.

[Efilroft Sul]

7. Defunding the taxpayer

[ProudLib72]

8. Defrauding the taxpayer

[mythology]

4. It's just a minor misunderstanding

What he meant was he wanted to cut government spending on poor people and science and education and things like that. He didn't mean spending on worthy causes like himself.

[blue neen]

5. Holy cow.

That's a lot of money. I hope Conor Lamb's campaign takes note.

[blue neen]

9. Hmm. Saccone, while spending like a drunken sailor, voted to cut numerous children's programs.

"But Saccone’s profligate use of the legislative expense account may come as a surprise. He was elected in 2010 during the tea party wave on a pledge to cut government spending. While in office, he has supported slashing the budgets for K-12 education, childhood education programs, public libraries, child welfare, and other state programs."

"Records maintained by the Pennsylvania General Assembly show that Saccone has billed taxpayers for a variety of questionable expenses, including 36 line items for various flag and flag accessory purchases totaling $4,436.30. The records also show that Saccone has spent $117,400 to lease an office from Dowling Properties, a real estate company founded by Celine Dowling, a campaign donor to Saccone. His campaign did not respond to a request for comment."