Per diem's for our Reps
From Beacon Hill Roll Call, the State, (we) gave 474,383 dollars to House Reps for mileage, meals and lodging, "for each day for travel from his place of residence to the State House and return, therefrom, while in the performance of his official duties, upon certification to the State treasurer that he was present at the Statehouse".
Richardson put in for 123 trips for 2,214.00, while Sannicandro was given 3,016.00 for 116. Other notable neighbors, Dykema, 93, Linsky from Natick, 2,340.00 for 130. The highest amount for 2009 went to Rep Timothy Madden D from Nantucket, 14,900.00 dollars.
Very few put in for no per diems and is not meant to say they didn't show up for work. It simply means that they choose not to list the number of days and not to request their per diems. Conroy from Wayland, did not list any days at the Statehouse and asked for no per diems.
So.. in Richardson's case, 24 weeks or so she went to the Statehouse, 29 weeks or so she did not.
Is it a part time job or not?
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 11:51 AM
8 Comments
8 Comments:
Sounds to me like this is the perfect proof of what you have been saying all along, that being a State Rep is not a full time job. But it also raises the question, if you “apply” for a job in Boston, then why should you expect to get paid to travel to Boston? Something in this process is broken, and we need to fix it. Times like these there is no way people should be paid for their commute to work!
Hooray for the reps that did not put in for any per diem. They sound like at least they get it. Richardson and the rest of the lot who charge us for requiring them to go to the State House should be ashamed of themselves. They make good money and they have one hell of a nerve expecting to get paid to show up for work. And how many times do they not show up when they are suppose to? That is what I would like to know. Politicians should not be in their jobs as a way to make a lot of money. If they want to be rich, they should be lobbyists, not politicians.
I know you are not a Richardson supporter, but this is a bit of a stretch. If they are entitled to get extra pay for going to the office, then they should get paid. Our beef should be with whoever wrote those regulations, not with the reps who take the pay that they are entitled to. Not defending her, as I am not a supporter. I just want to keep this ethical and clean. The per diem is not anything wrong or ilegal. We have enough other things to get her on, don’t think we need to jump on these types of things that are questionable.
Who wrote the law stating they should get per diem? How long has that been on the books? How do we get if off the books?
Richardson has much to answer for when she comes up for re-election this fall. I hope someone is keeping a list of questions about all these things to ask her when she starts her campaign. Of course, none of us regular old citizens of her district will be allowed to ask her any direct questions, so it is probably a waste of time, but who knows. This could be an interesting fall in the political landscape in this country.
I would agree with Tim on this Jim. Don’t get in to a mud wrestling match here. Richardson has made bad legislative choices that you can go after her for, don’t get caught up in the minutia. Stay on point here. From here on in what you say is going to be watched and considered as the election gets closer. Chose your battles and make them ones that count. Too often politicians fight the unimportant battles to avoid the ones that really matter and will hurt them the most. Don’t fall into that trap. Let her hang herself, don’t be her executioner. You stay above all that, state your case and your platform, and beat her on that.
The per diem rate was doubled some years ago by Beacon Hill and while it is not illegal and is part of their pay package, I wonder if any of you know of any part time job, that pays per diem. We're paying 68,000 a year, plus perks, for representation 24 weeks a year.
Fair government at a fair cost is all I ask for.
Great response Jim!
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