Jan 15, 2007 7:13 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Minn. Legislator Per Diem
by Pat Kessler
St. Paul (WCCO) ―
Minnesota's lawmakers last year got paid up to $66 extra a day for food and incidental costs, but this year, even before they passed the first bill, they boosted their per diem.
It's TRUE -- when our lawmakers are in session, they get per diem seven days a week, whether they are actually at the Capitol or not.
Paid out on top of their $31,141 annual salary, per diem payments are more secret, adding many thousands of dollars to their compensation -- thousands of dollars that count toward their pensions.
The TOP PER DIEM taker in the
Senate lives less than three miles from the Capitol. St. Paul Democrat
Sandy Pappas accepted $10,824 in per diem last year. In the
House, it's the former Speaker
Steve Sviggum. The Republican from Kenyon received $10,267.
IN FACT, on top of their salaries, lawmakers outside the Twin Cities also receive a housing allowance of up to $1,200 per month all year long, even when the legislature is not in session.
But there's more you NEED TO KNOW. Minnesota hasn't given lawmakers an up-front raise since
1999. In contrast, Iowa pays it's lawmakers even less, about $21,000 a year. Minnesota falls somewhere in the middle. Wisconsin legislators, for example, get more: almost $46,000. All
three states pay per diem.
And that's NOT THE WHOLE STORY. If you think 2006 per diem payments were high,
2007 will be higher. From $66 to $96 a day in the Senate and to $77 in the House -- no receipts, no questions asked.
That's Reality Check.
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