Feb. 25, 2025
HARRISBURG – Highlighting potential government waste, Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover), who is the Republican chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee, raised questions during the House Appropriations Committee’s budget hearing with the Department of Labor and Industry about the high cost the department paid for lanyards for employees.
According to Grove, the department signed a two-year contract for $10,000 to purchase lanyards, which cost about 99 cents each, and vinyl identification badges for the 1,689 current employees of the unemployment compensation office.
The new lanyards are meant to meet federal requirements that ID badges be displayed above the waist, a department official said.
“Do we really need a contract for 10,000 lanyards? Maybe the department can rachet down the amount and buy what is expected to be needed,” Grove said. “The fact state government was forced to spend any money to meet a federal government requirement because the old lanyards hung a little too low is a prime example of government raising costs, which will be paid for by taxpayers. The department should be coordinating with DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) to alleviate these wasteful government mandates.”
To watch Grove’s questions, click here. To download and disseminate the video, click the three dots at the bottom right of the video.
Representative Seth Grove
196th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
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