Back from spring break, which I spent relaxing at home with family and canines. I saw this story in The Philadelphia Inquirer this morning, and thought it was a himourous illustration of wasting taxpayer money:

State Rep. Mark Cohen left the Barnes & Noble near Harrisburg in March 2004 loaded down with 15 new titles, including Clinton and Me, a book by the former president's joke writer.

The bill: $303.

For him, money wasn't an object. He wasn't paying. You were.

Over the last two years, the state has reimbursed the veteran legislator $28,200 on bookstore spending sprees, a review of expense records shows. He spent $1,118 in September alone, making nine trips to bookstores.

This has allowed the Philadelphia Democrat to expand his personal library by more than 800 titles.

That's more than one book a day for the legislator who describes himself as "a voracious reader."

How voracious?

Here's the kicker!

Cohen's book bill for 2004 and 2005 is more than what the Philadelphia School District spent to stock library shelves at the two high schools and two middle schools in his legislative district. The four schools, which have a combined enrollment of 5,000 students, spent $21,600 on books and periodicals in that two-year period, officials said. [Emphasis Added]

Supposedly, this makes him a "better legislator." Sheesh.

Posted by Ryan S. on Sunday, April 02, 2006 at 7:23 PM | Permalink |