HARRISBURG -- For years, state Rep. Mike Veon convened a weekly pick-up game of basketball, then plied his fellow hoopsters with burritos, sushi or Thai cuisine -- all at taxpayer expense.

The meals cost taxpayers $15,600 between 2002 and 2006. All the while, Mr. Veon collected per diems ranging from $126 to $148. Those per diems are meant to provide meals and lodging for lawmakers while working in Harrisburg.

The basketball dinners were arranged by staffers who testified that they spent hours coordinating meal orders and picking up food. Sometimes they charged the meals to their own credit cards and then were reimbursed with tax dollars.

Agent Michael Cranga of the state Attorney General's Office testified this morning about the meal receipts he combed through as he helped investigate a government corruption case. On trial are Mr. Veon and three former staffers.

During cross-examination, Veon attorney Dan Raynak suggested that attendees discussed legislation at the dinners.

He also pointed out that during 2004, 2005 and 2006, caucus leaders often hired caterers to deliver lunches and dinners to members, and that those members also collected per diems on those days.

Receipts Mr. Cranga reviewed show that expenditures ranged from $35 for burritos to $420 for Chinese takeout.

The basketball dinners are a small piece the wider case alleging misuse of tax dollars for personal and political gain.

The case centers around accusations that the House Democratic caucus distributed $1.4 million in tax dollars as rewards for staffers who worked on political campaigns, often during their state work time..

Also today, Mr. Cranga testified that the caucus spent at least $20,000 a year between 2004 and 2006 for access to LexisNexis, a subscription-based database service that provides access to public records and news stories.

According to previous testimony, aides routinely used LexisNexis to conduct "opposition research" that could be used in attack ads launched against political foes.

Defense attorneys argued that LexisNexis also was used for legitimate legislative purposes and that the monthly fee is a flat rate that does not increase with use.

"If it's paid for by the state for a legitimate purpose and no additional cost is incurred for an alleged illicit purpose, what relevance does it have?" Veon attorney Joel Sansone asked Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Richard A. Lewis.

Mr. Raynak argued unsuccessfully -- outside the presence of the jury -- that the LexisNexis evidence should not be introduced.

He said it wasn't possible to sort out what proportion of the LexisNexis bills were for legitimate work and what proportion for campaign.

The prosecution could wrap up its case by the end of the week.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.