A dog urine detector? How Pa. lawmakers spent millions in campaign cash

A country club membership, California wines, a dog urine detector — all paid for with campaign cash. Why are Pennsylvania candidates allowed to spend donors' money this way?

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Pennsylvania Senate President Joe Scarnati led the state in lavish campaign spending, according to an investigation by The Caucus and Spotlight PA. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file)

Pennsylvania Senate President Joe Scarnati led the state in lavish campaign spending, according to an investigation by The Caucus and Spotlight PA. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file)

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A country club membership, California wines, and… an ultraviolet dog urine detector? All items Pennsylvania lawmakers have paid for using campaign dollars. Angela Couloumbis, a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA, explains why it’s legal for candidates to spend donor cash this way — and to hide what they spend it on.

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