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Former House Speaker Faced Controversy Before

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Nov 13, 2009 9:24 pm US/Eastern

Former House Speaker Faced Controversy Before

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Former Speaker of the House John Perzel is accused of using $10 million in taxpayer money to support Republican campaigns.

John Perzel was a restaurant maitre d' in Philadelphia before eventually became Speaker of the Pennsylvania House.

Four years ago, in the middle of the night without debate, he pushed through a huge payraise for lawmakers.

Taxpayers were screaming. Perzel didn't want to talk about it in October of 2005.

Martino: "Why no debate, no hearings on it?

Perzel: "Do you have another question?"

There were other similar confrontations with Perzel over the years, like the time KDKA's Paul Martino asked him why he allowed House members to double-dip on their expenses.

While taxpayers gave state representatives meal money, they paid even more to buy them expensive meals at restaurants and still more money to cater meals for lawmakers.

It's a practice allowed under House rules that Perzel helped write but doesn't like to talk about it.

Perzel: "If there's a problem with the expenses, go see the individual members."

Martino: "You're not concerned about it all sir? We're talking about taxpayer money."

Perzel: "I told you [to] go see the individual members."

Blowing off reporters may be one thing, but when he spoke to fourth graders at an elementary school in Beechview a few years ago, he brushed away questions from the kids about the limousine chauffeuring him around the state at taxpayer expense.

Students: "Can we see the limo?"

Perzel: "If there was a limo out there you could go see it."

Those kids learned an important lesson that day and that is in Harrisburg a limousine isn't always a limousine, especially when taxpayers are picking up the tab.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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