Dec 5, 2002 1 min read

If awards were given out for being the most cunning, Pennsylvania House Speaker Matt Ryan would certainly be in the running. Say what you want about the Republican lawmaker from Delaware, but he sure knows how to milk taxpayers and take care of his fellow lawmakers. You might recall last week’s ending of the Lame Duck session when lawmakers scurried to pass through a bunch of bills that they hadn’t the fortitude or will to address the past two years. Wednesday night ran into Thursday as lawmakers sat around waiting for last-minute amendments to be printed. According to the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Ryan adjourned the House at 12:05 Thanksgiving morning only to reconvene 1 minute later.

Twenty minutes and a couple votes later, the session ended. Ryan then explained he had adjourned then reconvened the House so that members would get expense money. That maneuver entitled House members to claim another $125 per diem. Not bad for 20 minutes work.