Lawmaker to return state money collected for business meals
HARRISBURG – Bucks County Rep. John Galloway said he is reimbursing the state for all the taxpayer money he spent on “business meals” and is discontinuing the practice of taking constituents out to eat. Galloway, a freshman Democrat who was elected on government reform, said he didn’t like the public “appearance” of his spending more than $1,400 on meals during his first six weeks on the House payroll.
Galloway spent much of the money before officially taking office on Jan. 2.
“I am saying right now, as a reformer, I shouldn’t have done this,” said Galloway. “I should hold myself to a higher standard.”
He added, “I’m going to reimburse every cent spent on food-related items and it will never happen again.”
Galloway could not yet provide the exact amount of his reimbursement. He continued to spend on business meals into March, although he said he curbed the practice starting in February.
The Herald-Standard provided details of Galloway’s meal spending for the first time on Wednesday through expense reports and receipts provided by the House Clerk’s office.
The receipts showed that Galloway had billed taxpayers for 23 meals from Dec. 1 to Jan. 14 from his $24,000 spending account. He has an additional $4,000 to spend on postage.
Galloway justified the meal spending as a way to discuss legislative and district issues with businesspeople and local leaders, noting that as a former businessman he took clients out to eat.
He also sent taxpayers a $444 tab for his inaugural-day breakfast reception at the Capitol.
Two other freshman lawmakers – Allegheny Democratic Reps. Chelsa Wagner and Matthew Smith – reimbursed the state in early March for similar inaugural-day meals after their spending patterns were revealed.
Eric Epstein, coordinator for the government watchdog group Rock the Capital, commended Galloway but questioned his, and other newcomers’ judgments on spending taxpayer dollars.
“Obviously Rep. Galloway tripped coming out of the reform gate,” said Epstein. “Hopefully he can get back on the reform horse.”
Epstein said the incident proves it’s important to continue monitoring the “foot soldiers we sent to Harrisburg to fight the reform war.”
Galloway also vowed to curb his per diems, the $148 per day allotment for lodging and meals in Harrisburg which doesn’t require receipts. He said he would only put in for actual expenditures.
“If it comes out to $95, that’s all I’m getting reimbursed,” said Galloway.
This Friday he said he’s also turning in his state-issued car and will be driving his personal vehicle, a Pontiac G6 he’s leasing.
“If I’m going to talk the [reform] talk, I’m going to walk the walk,” Galloway said.
Alison Hawkes can be reached at 717-705-6330 or ahawkes@calkins-media.com