Pennsylvania “earmarks:” Millions of dollars, mystery and controversy

On June 27, the Pennsylvania House and Senate approved legislation known as the “fiscal code” that was then signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf. The Commonwealth Foundation reported that the bill contained more than 80 mysteriously worded “earmarks” related to more than $61 million in spending. The foundation called them “the opposite of transparency.” Here are some examples:

Earmark No. 1: “… From money appropriated for medical assistance long-term care, no less than $850,000 shall be allocated to a special rehabilitation facility in Peer Group Number 13 in a city of the third class with a population between 115,000 and 120,000 based upon 2010 census data …”

Commonwealth Foundation’s best guess on recipient: Allentown.

Note: State Sen. Pat Browne, a 24-year Republican lawmaker and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was asked in 2017 about an identically worded section of that year’s fiscal code. He identified the recipient as Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital and said he was proud to have found the funding for Good Shepherd. The hospital also is in the district of 4-year Democrat Rep. Peter Schweyer, who supports earmarks.

Earmark No. 2: “… From money appropriated for infrastructure projects, $1,900,000 shall be allocated for costs related to capital equipment for a rural transit service headquartered in this Commonwealth that provides intercity line-run service with at least six different line runs …”

Best guess of Commonwealth Foundation and state Rep. Dawn Keefer on recipient: Fullington, a Trailways bus operator in Centre County.

Note: Fullington’s State College terminal is in the districts of 20-year Republican state Sen. Jake Corman, the Senate majority leader, and Scott Conklin, a 12-year Democrat representative. A spokesman for Conklin, Tor Michaels, said Conklin was unaware of the item and did not participate in it. A spokeswoman for Corman, Jennifer Kocher, could not immediately say whether Corman inserted the language.

Earmark No. 3: “… $1,000,000 shall be allocated to a state-owned university located in Tioga County for merit scholarships …”

Commonwealth Foundation’s best guess on recipient: Mansfield University.

Note: The university is in the districts of 18-year Republican Sen. Joseph Scarnati, who is president pro tempore of the Senate, and first-term Republican Rep. Clint Owlett. A spokeswoman for Scarnati, Kate Flessner, said Scarnati had the language put in the fiscal code and it was “an investment in educational initiatives.”

Earmark No. 4: “…$918,000 shall be distributed to a community college in a county of the fourth class with a population of at least 175,000, but not more than 190,000, under the most recent Federal decennial census…”

Commonwealth Foundation’s best guess on recipient: Butler County Community College.

Note: The college is in the district of 27-year Republican lawmaker Scott E. Hutchinson, who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and new Republican Rep. Marci Mustello. A spokesman for Mustello, Rick Leiner, said of the language, “Senator Scarnati and his group put it in but our caucus was aware of it.” A spokeswoman for Scarnati could not immediately verify the statement.

Sources: Commonwealth Foundation; PA 2019-20 fiscal code; state lawmakers and staff members.