HARRISBURG - State lawmakers boosted spending on feel-good community events this past fiscal year, shelling out more than $200,000 in taxpayer money for senior expos, document-shredding days and other similar programs, a Sunday Times analysis found.

Critics say the community events give incumbent legislators advantages at the polls.Legislators defend the practice, saying the events are a key part of constituent services.Lawmakers, including 21 representing northeast Pennsylvania, spent $216,803 of state taxpayer money to run these events between July 1, 2015, and June 30, the newspaper found.That is up from the $197,000 lawmakers spent in fiscal 2013-14, the last time the newspaper looked at the spending.The newspaper filed a right to know law request with the House and Senate chief clerks' offices for what lawmakers spent on community events.The events include senior expos, health fairs, document shredding services, booths at local fairs, seminars on state laws concerning gun permits and meals honoring the service of veterans or law enforcement officers. The spending covers travel, equipment, booth rentals and sometimes meals for attendees, who are not charged admission.The Legislative Audit Advisory Commission gives no breakdown for community events spending in its annual audit reports.While the costs for the events may seem nominal when compared to the roughly $300 million legislative budget, critics say there is tremendous value to lawmakers seeking re-election."These events and expos are part of a coordinated program - used by both parties - to keep incumbents in power," said activist Eric Epstein, founder of RockTheCapital.DisagreementThese events give lawmakers an opportunity to meet with constituents, tell them what issues are before the Legislature and find out what issues they want addressed, said Stephen Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-62, Indiana."There's always a legislative purpose," said Miskin. "Otherwise you can't do it."Two common events are senior expos and seminars to explain Pennsylvania's concealed weapons carry law."This is a one-stop shop for all senior services in one afternoon," said Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, D-114, Taylor, about the expos.He spent $875 to rent a site for a senior fair at St. Mary's Center, Scranton, in August 2015.Seniors who attended could get free health screenings and information about ride programs, Meals on Wheels, hospices and services at senior centers, Kavulich said.Hundreds of constituents turned out for several concealed carry seminars in Schuylkill and Berks counties last year, said Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Tamaqua.He spent $133 last year on costs associated with these events."It was a low-budget event," said Knowles, explaining that he split costs with co-hosts Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua, and Reps. Neal Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City, and Mike Tobash, R-125, Pottsville.The two chambers place no election season restrictions on holding these community events - unlike with mailers or newsletters to voters.Communications banHouse rules ban within 60 days before an election "mass communications" sent on behalf of a member who is a candidate.A senator running for re-election or another office cannot print or distribute a Senate-funded newsletter within 60 days of a primary or general election.Holding community events within 60 days of the election violates the intent of rules preventing lawmakers from using public tax dollars to circulate their names before an election, said veteran Capitol activist Gene Stilp."The taxpayers are being sheared of their tax dollars for political purposes," he said.These events are not included in the 60-day ban because it is hard to divorce the basic work of a legislator from a campaign, said Miskin.Community eventsThe community events are different from official mailers being sent to someone's home, said Jennifer Kocher, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-34, Bellefonte.Constituents are invited to these events and lawmakers cannot be prevented from serving their constituents, she said.With no rules stopping them, more than a dozen lawmakers seeking re-election held events within the 60-day window before the April 26 primary, the newspaper found.Reps. Frank Farina, D-112, Jessup, and Gerald Mullery, D-119, Newport Township, spent $450 and $525, respectively, for shredding events in April.Both hired All-Shred, a Maryland-based firm, that participates in community shredding events.The shredded paper eventually is sent to paper mills to be recycled.Some lawmakers do pick up the tab for events or ask sponsors for donations to keep taxpayer-funded costs down, said Miskin.For example, Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, held a shredding event April 16 at the Scranton High School parking lot.He used his own money to pay the $525 cost, according to his invoice for the event.However, Flynn did submit $262 in expenses for a July 2015 shredding event.Some lawmakers held community events within the 60-day window for the general election.For example, Rep. Karen Boback, R-117, Harveys Lake, sponsored a Nov. 5 veterans appreciation event and expo in conjunction with Misericordia University in Dallas.Reps. David Parker, R-115, Stroud Township, and Jack Rader, R-176, Jackson Township, held a Sept. 17 fall wellness festival in Tannersville.Expense reportsOther local lawmakers' expense reports show:• Sens. John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Township, and Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Township, split the $5,300 expense for renting equipment to participate in the Luzerne County Senior Expo in Kingston in the fall of 2015.• Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-143, Doylestown, spent $500 to rent a teenager bedroom display for use in a forum on drug and opioid use prevention in July 2015. Quinn said the display gave parents a better understanding of the potential hiding places where a teen could stash drugs.• Sen. Mario Scavello, R-40, Mount Pocono, spent $1,655 for breakfast and lunches for 92 people attending a Senator For a Day event at Northampton Community College in October 2015.• Rep. Vanessa Lowery-Brown, D-189, Philadelphia, spent $250 to rent a site for an Indigenous Peoples Day in October 2015.• Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-120, Kingston, spent $266 on food and supplies for a police officer appreciation dinner in October 2015.• Rep. Martin Causer, R-67, Bradford, spent $292 on food for a ceremony in May honoring veterans of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.• Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Township, spent $92 on lunch for volunteers during a Graffiti Paint Out event in Hazleton in June.In the northeast delegation, Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, and Reps. Rosemary Brown, R-189, Middle Smithfield Township, Mike Carroll, D-118, Avoca, Sandra Major, R-111, Bridgewater Township, and Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, Wilkes-Barre, reported no spending on community events.