Jan 14, 2009 11:06 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Who's Getting The Most Per Diem?
(WCCO)
Minnesota doesn't pay its part time lawmakers a lot of money, and their salaries haven't gone up in 10 years. However, lawmakers super-charge their income with per diem payments.
IN FACT, officially, the legislature meets for about 3 to 5 months every year, and lawmakers get paid $31,140 every year. They also receive daily expense payments called per diem, which originally was meal money, but now can boost their income by more than 50 percent.
It's TRUE. Lawmakers can get up to $96 a day in the Senate and up to $77 a day in the House. They can receive per diem seven days a week during the session, even when they're not physically at the Capitol. And it counts toward their pensions.
No receipts are necessary and no questions are asked.
Here's what you NEED TO KNOW.
The number one per diem recipient in the House is Democrat Al Juhnke from Willmar with $14,476 in per diem last year.
In the Senate, the number one recipient is St. Paul Democrat Sandy Pappas with $16,416 in per diem last year.
Juhnke said his per diem reflects his hard work.
"Minnesota doesn't have a part-time legislature anymore. People expect us to be available at all times," he said.
That's NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
Legislative pay is widely different around the country.
In California, lawmakers receive a salary of $116,000 a year, plus $107 in daily expenses. In neighboring Wisconsin, the salary for lawmakers is $49,943 a year, plus $88 in per diem.
However, there's always New Hampshire with $100 a year salary and no per diem. That's it, for everything.
One lawmaker WORTH NOTING is Rep. Steve Simon of St. Louis Park, a Democrat, who is the only member of the Minnesota legislature who accepts no per diem.
That's Reality Check.
To see how much per diem your representatives receive and for more resources for this Reality Check, click on the links below.
2008 House Per Diem Expenses
2008 Senate Per Diem Expenses
Minnesota Elected Officials' Compensation
2008 Legislator Compensation By State
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