Oct 5, 2014 1 min read

HARRISBURG (AP) — A newspaper is reporting that Pennsylvania state lawmakers spent nearly $200,000 of public money last year for expos and other constituent outreach events, including paper shredding and an Easter Buddy breakfast.

The Times-Tribune of Scranton reported Sunday that incumbents defend the community seminars, senior expos and other events, while critics say they are taxpayer funded re-election efforts.

State House members can use their annual $20,000 office budget to pay for community events with a legislative purpose, along with utilities, janitorial services and other district office costs.

The paper says it used the Right-to-Know Law to determine that 113 House lawmakers spent $106,000 and 35 senators nearly $91,000. The Legislature’s budget is about $300 million.

Among the topics have been self-defense gun laws, indigenous people, pretzels and health fairs.