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Despite the coronavirus pandemic and a lengthy statewide shutdown, Pennsylvania state lawmakers — led by Democrats in the House — still banked hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional taxpayer money for meals and lodging while on official business.

The payments, known as “per diems,” have long been criticized as an unnecessary largesse for the country’s largest full-time legislature, which pays the third-highest salaries for state lawmakers in the country.

A Spotlight PA analysis of legislative records found lawmakers requested and received $726,877 from the beginning of March — as the pandemic emerged — through the end of 2020 as reimbursement for lodging and meals while traveling to and from the Capitol or other meetings across the state.

Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer County, pocketed the most per-diem money at $24,115, followed by Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence County.

Southwestern Pennsylvania lawmakers requested and received about $145,000 combined. Here’s a rundown of who got how much:

Rep. William Kortz, D-Dravosburg, $19,957 (4th-highest total in Pennsylvania) Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, $10,554 (15th) Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Pittsburgh, $8,965 (23rd) Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, $8,459 (26th) Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, $8,309 (29th) Rep. Joe Petrarca, D-Washington Township, $7,512 (31st) Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville, $6,929 (36th) Rep. Matthew Dowling, R-Uniontown, $6,794 (38th) Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, $6,544 (39th) Rep. Eric Davanzo, R-South Huntingdon, $6,276 (43rd) Rep. Marci Mustello, R-Butler Township, $5,600 (52nd) Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Pittsburgh, $5,575 (53rd) Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Pittsburgh, $4,803 (62nd) Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Pittsburgh, $4,747 (63rd) Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Carmichaels, $4,179 (68th) Rep. Josh Kail, R-Beaver, $3,901 (72nd) Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Ambridge, $3,779 (73rd) Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, $3,394 (75th) Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Shaler, $3,350 (77th) Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Upper St. Clair, $3,178 (80th) Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield, $2,878 (85th) Rep. Summer Lee, D-Braddock, $1,929 (102nd) Rep. Mike Reese, R-Mt. Pleasant Township, $1,697 (107th) Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Pittsburgh, $1,511 (109th) Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Pittsburgh, $1,414 (112th) Rep. Jim Marshall, R-Beaver Falls, $1,302 (114th) Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Pittsburgh, $774 (126th) Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, $426 (133rd) Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso, R-Oakmont, $418 (134th) Sen. Pam Iovino, D-Mt. Lebanon, $198 (138th)

Per diems are flat rates lawmakers can claim when they travel more than 50 miles from their house for legislative business. Unlike in the private sector, legislators don’t have to provide receipts, leaving open the possibility that their actual daily expenses could be more or less than the full per diem rate, which in 2020 generally ranged from $178 to $200. Pennsylvania has some of the most generous per diem rates among all state legislatures, according to a national analysis.

Read the full story here, or use the lookup tool below to search for your lawmaker or county to see how much they requested in reimbursement during the coronavirus pandemic:

(Can’t see the interactive tool below? Click here.)

Tribune-Review senior editor Tom Fontaine contributed to this report.

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