I'm blogging over at Liberal in the Land of Conservative now! Thanks to Political Muse for inviting me!
I'll still publish non-political stuff over here at Blueman though...like an NFL rant that is festering...
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
SC Times hits per diem and other compensation
Again!
Recall the posts on this last year.
According to a SC Times investigation, 18 legislators received more in per diem and other compensation than their annual salary, $31,140.
I opposed the sharp increases in per diem back in March 2007. I believe that our legislators are not properly compensated for the work that they do. However, the back door pay increases like raising per diem from $66 a day to $96 a day look like ways to skirt the system, especially since no receipts are required.
So, let's take another look at what our local leaders hauled in last year!
Bruce Anderson: $18,066. He's noted to be a "friend of the taxpayer".
Tom Emmer: $7,322.
Mark Olson: $13,794.
Ron Shimanski: $14,372.
Dean Urdahl: $19,793. How many church potlucks did he claim?
With more than $3.45 million spent on legislator per diem thus far in 2008 and the state facing a significant budget deficit, rumored to be in the $4-$6 Billion range, will our elected leaders do the right thing and reduce the spending on per diems?
Will they create a stronger system of accountability?
We'll go into a more detailed account of the per diem follies in a later post, just as we did last year.
Recall the posts on this last year.
According to a SC Times investigation, 18 legislators received more in per diem and other compensation than their annual salary, $31,140.
I opposed the sharp increases in per diem back in March 2007. I believe that our legislators are not properly compensated for the work that they do. However, the back door pay increases like raising per diem from $66 a day to $96 a day look like ways to skirt the system, especially since no receipts are required.
So, let's take another look at what our local leaders hauled in last year!
Bruce Anderson: $18,066. He's noted to be a "friend of the taxpayer".
Tom Emmer: $7,322.
Mark Olson: $13,794.
Ron Shimanski: $14,372.
Dean Urdahl: $19,793. How many church potlucks did he claim?
With more than $3.45 million spent on legislator per diem thus far in 2008 and the state facing a significant budget deficit, rumored to be in the $4-$6 Billion range, will our elected leaders do the right thing and reduce the spending on per diems?
Will they create a stronger system of accountability?
We'll go into a more detailed account of the per diem follies in a later post, just as we did last year.
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