PHEAA releases records showing gaudy spending at board retreats

The state’s college loan agency on Monday released records detailing how its board spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on trips to lavish resorts as far away as California between 2000 and 2005.

The records were the second and final batch of documents that the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency made available to three news organizations after 19 months of ultimately unsuccessful efforts to block public access through the state courts, largely on grounds that the documents contain ‘‘trade secrets.’‘

The records, which filled nearly 700 pages, covered eight retreats at luxury resorts and hotels attended by many members of PHEAA’s 20-member board, most of whom are state legislators, as well as PHEAA staff members and guests. The names of business clients wined and dined at the events were obscured in the documents.

Charges for hotel rooms, elaborate banquets and transportation, including thousands of dollars in reimbursements for use of state-owned airplanes, accounted for a large part of the more than $768,000 in expenditures, according to the records. But bar bills, golf outings and spa treatments were among the other expenses common at events that were short on business and long on recreation and relaxation.

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It doesn't surprise me!

Once I read that the 20 members of the PHEAA were mostly legislators, I understood why the PHEAA spent so lavishly. Following the legislators’ attempt to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers by that outrageous pay raise, newspapers made the citizens aware of the other outlandish excesses and shenanigans of our arrogant legislators. The PHEAA’S lavish expenses are another example of lawmakers looking out for themselves.

No kidding

Yeah I didn’t realize that they were mostly legislators, either. Explains a whole lot!

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