Commission Declines to Raise Legislators' Session Pay
At the urging of top Republican leaders in the Texas House and Senate, the Texas Ethics Commission has declined to raise the session pay for state legislators.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus asked the commission in early January not to raise the per diem that legislators get every day they’re in session. The commission, charged with setting the rate, had proposed raising it from $150 to $179 ahead of its meeting this week.
But Thursday, commissioners voted 6-2 to accept the leaders' recommendation and go with the lower figure, according to Jim Clancy, the chairman ...
Comments (5)
C.g. David via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How about no more pensions for elected officials, period!
Alexandra Richmond via Texas Tribune on Facebook
thank you. many state workers thank you.
Ken Collier via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'd rather that they get more money from the citizens of Texas and start turning down all the free food and drink provided by the lobby.
Steven Kite
Ken, we could pay them more money than the Gods HAVE and until there are penalties that matter for accepting lobby bribes it wouldn't matter. They don't take the freebies because they NEED them. They're just THERE, and FREE, and they don't lose anything for taking them, so...
Michelle James
State employes that travel on state business have a whopping $36 per diem AND tips aren't reimbursed. As a result, already underpaid employees end up with out-of-pocket costs to travel for the state unless they want to eat fast food the entire time, which is unrealistic as they usually have to go to lunch or dinner with whomever their meeting on business and don't have a choice. State employees are only reimbursed for what they spend on meals, unlike legislators who pocket their per diems.
Another ridiculous rule for state employees that travel is if they go on a day trip and don't stay overnight, they don't even get a per diem, so all food is out-of-pocket. But if they stay overnight, they get the per diem. It would save money to pay a per diem for a day trip and not pay for a hotel room but the state rules for employees are different from the legislators. State employees don't have campaign accounts they can tap.
So no, Alexandra, state employees DON'T thank them.