To state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, for refusing to take so-called "per diems" - expense money of $163 a day for every day lawmakers are in Harrisburg; this is supposed to cover the cost of food and lodging.

In this space on Thursday we cited a report by WNEP-TV, in Luzerne County, that showed some lawmakers deduct the $163 reimbursement from their federal income tax liability, and not just for the days they're in Harrisburg but for every day the Legislature is in session. In other words, whether they're in town or not!

This dubious deduction is allowable under federal tax law, but certainly questionable as far as we're concerned. We urged voters to ask their representatives about it. (As an equally startling aside we should point out that lawmakers don't have to submit receipts to get the expense money. They just grab it.)

Santarsiero of Lower Makefield responded to our editorial, in part, as follows: "I don't believe that it's reasonable for legislators to be compensated for expenses without any proof that an expense was incurred. That's one of the reasons why I don't take the per diem. But even if one could argue that a per diem were warranted, it seems to me that allowing an income tax deduction in the same amount for each day that the Legislature is in session regardless of whether legislators are physically in Harrisburg is double-dipping. I can't see how it's justified and, as a consequence, it should be disallowed...

"In short, both the per diem and the related deduction are unreasonable, in my view."

In ours, too.