Legislators' pens mean red ink for taxpayers

Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

First Bibles, then pens.

When they took the oath of office in January, most Pennsylvania legislators placed their right hands on new Bibles and Torahs that cost taxpayers about $13,700.

Now comes word that members of the state House got something else that day as well - a desktop pen set.

It was a gift presented by new House Speaker Keith R. McCall (D., Carbon). But he didn't pay for it. The public did - nearly $4,000.

In all, 210 of the trinkets were ordered at a cost of $18.95 each. That's one for each of the 203 representatives with a few to spare.

It's only other peoples' money.