The man who runs one of the state's largest bureaucracies apparently does so from his home in Rhode Island at times. The round trip commute for Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander from Harrisburg to his home and back is about 700 miles.
The Department of Public Welfare is one of the state's largest agencies. It supports the needs of more than two million disabled, elderly and low-income residents with nearly 16,000 employees.
On state travel documents, Secretary Alexander lists a Harrisburg address in the 2800 block of North Second Street. Those same records show he regularly commutes between here and Rhode Island.
Last year those trips cost the taxpayers more than $4700. Using today's price per-gallon of gas, a one-way trip costs about $50 dollars.
The information was obtained through a right-to-know request by PA Independent. The Department of General Services' monthly vehicle use reports document that from July 2011 through June 2012, Alexander drove nearly 42,000 miles in state-owned vehicles.
At least half that mileage was listed under "commute."
Alexander more often than not spent a four-day work week in Harrisburg. But there are weeks where he we was only here two or three days.
The DPW web site says he's a widely recognized health care and program innovator, welfare reformer and management specialist.
The Department of Public Welfare is one of the state's largest agencies. It supports the needs of more than two million disabled, elderly and low-income residents with nearly 16,000 employees.
On state travel documents, Secretary Alexander lists a Harrisburg address in the 2800 block of North Second Street. Those same records show he regularly commutes between here and Rhode Island.
Last year those trips cost the taxpayers more than $4700. Using today's price per-gallon of gas, a one-way trip costs about $50 dollars.
The information was obtained through a right-to-know request by PA Independent. The Department of General Services' monthly vehicle use reports document that from July 2011 through June 2012, Alexander drove nearly 42,000 miles in state-owned vehicles.
At least half that mileage was listed under "commute."
Alexander more often than not spent a four-day work week in Harrisburg. But there are weeks where he we was only here two or three days.
The DPW web site says he's a widely recognized health care and program innovator, welfare reformer and management specialist.