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OLYMPIA — Senate Republicans and Democrats traded jabs over one of the costs of the upcoming special session, the $90 per diem legislators get to help cover the cost of food and lodging when away from home.
Republicans crafted a Senate bill Wednesday that would remove the per diem for all legislators during the special session. Their leaders castigated Democrats for being so disorganized that the Legislature needs extra innings to get the budget worked out.
“A special session this year is a costly and embarrassing prospect, and if the majority has any regard for taxpayers it should do everything in its power to bring the cost down,” Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgeview said.
Democrats countered that this is a bit of unconstitutional grandstanding. New bills can’t be introduced in the last 10 days of the session without a two-thirds approval of both houses. Zarelli said Democrats have been ignoring other rules throughout the session.
Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said, legislators don’t need a new law to refuse their per diem. They can do that voluntarily, like Sen. Karen Fraser, who lives in Olympia and regularly refuses hers.
“Those who feel the per diem is unnecessary simply need not collect it,” Brown said.
Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, said he’d already decided to refuse his, but it would be a hardship for some legislators from Eastern Washington so it should remain voluntary.
Jim Camden is a veteran political reporter for The Spokesman-Review.
Jonathan Brunt covers Spokane City Hall for The Spokesman-Review.
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CharlesBillford on March 10 at 11:28 p.m.
$90 x 30 = $2700
$2700 x 12 = $32,400
and that isnt even their pay.
I suggest we buy up the FEMA katrina trailers and make them live on the grounds of the State buildings, with porta pottys and live on food stamps.
Perhaps that would be a dose of reality and I guarantee you they wont be staying past 60 days passing stupid laws and bankrupting the state and its citizens.
arroyoribera on March 11 at 2:07 p.m.
$2700 per month seems way too much to me too, Charles, though I once received Federal per diem while living in Washington, DC and the amount received by tens of thousands of federal employees receiving that for one reason or another and living in fine hotels and apartments is immense. Nevertheless, your math is way off. Washington state legislators are never in session for 12 months and therefore do not receive $2700 times 12. This year it would be $2700 times the two months of the current session to date.