Legislators list lots of freebies on report

Three Democratic representatives won money while gambling.

HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania state legislators flew to foreign lands, cheered on pro sports teams from the stands and even paid some criminal defense legal bills last year without having to crack open their own wallets.

Lawmakers collected about $22,000 in gifts and $89,000 in subsidized travel in 2007, according to an Associated Press analysis of their annual Statement of Financial Interests forms.

The forms were due at the State Ethics Commission on Thursday.

Free or partially free travel took them to Ireland, Poland, Taiwan, Mexico, Las Vegas and beyond. They reaped free tickets to watch Penn State’s football team and NASCAR races in the Poconos, not to mention the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and 76ers. Ski passes were covered and greens fees were gratis.

Three Democratic state representatives reported windfalls from gambling.

Flo Fabrizio of Erie County said he and his wife enjoy playing the slots and eating dinner at Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie. On one outing, his 75-cent slots bet hit a $1,500 jackpot.

“I put it in the bank,” he said. “We have one rule: If we’re losing, we walk out very quickly, and if we’re winning, we walk out very quickly.”

Frank Andrews Shimkus of Lackawanna County won twice at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y., collecting about $7,000 over two weeks in February.

Frank Oliver of Philadelphia said he was unsure of the details of his winnings, but his form listed income from both the Showboat casino in Atlantic City, N.J., and the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Two senators facing criminal charges disclosed legal defense funds: Bob Regola, R-Westmoreland, and Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia.

Fumo, awaiting trial on federal corruption charges, said his Phoenix Trust’s “blind” structure keeps him from knowing the donors or amounts, but Regola identified 24 donors — some consisting of more than one person — who pitched in $13,375.

They included fellow state senators, senatorial aides and lobbyists. About $2,000 more has come in since January, a spokesman said Thursday.

“Contributions don’t make a difference to the way he votes, whether they be to his defense fund, his political action committee or anywhere else,” said Regola spokesman Ray Zaborney.

Regola is accused of lying under oath during an inquest into the death of a teen neighbor who authorities say shot himself with Regola’s handgun nearly two years ago. The senator also is accused of allowing his son Bobby to have access to the gun.

Three state representatives took a six-day trip in February 2007 to Ireland and Poland to meet with government officials, tour economic development sites and view the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.