Scarnati to pay back shale company for Super Bowl junket

HARRISBURG - The state's top senator said he will repay an energy company drilling in the Marcellus Shale for his trip to see the Pittsburgh Steelers play in the Super Bowl in Texas.

Senate president Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) announced through Twitter and Facebook on Monday that he will reimburse Consol Energy Inc. for the full cost of his ticket, plane ride and hotel bill - and that he had planned to do so from the start.

He could not be reached for further comment.

It was unclear whether he intends to use his own money to reimburse Consol, or whether he will tap his campaign funds.

On Sunday, The Inquirer reported that Scarnati had accepted the free trip, and that he was awaiting a full accounting of the costs associated with it to determine what portion, if any, he would repay. His top aide, Drew Crompton, said at the time that the senator could use campaign funds.