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Should Lawmakers Receive Per Diem Pay Outside Juneau for Personal Business?Lawmakers are in day 18 of the special session but not all of them have been in Juneau the entire time, but many are still collecting their per diem.Related Content
As lawmakers continue to haggle over a capital spending budget in Juneau, some are taking brief trips away from the halls of the legislature. Some have medical issues, others have state business to do and still others are taking a personal leave of absence.
But so far, Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, is the only legislator who has told the state to keep his per diem check.
Per diem is payment for expenses incurred by the 57 lawmakers who live more than 50 miles from the state capital.
The payment is $232 a day.
"During regular session they probably rent apartments or homes. During a special session they are paying probably at a hotel," said Pam Varni, executive director for the Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency.
In Anchorage, like in many major cities in Alaska, lawmakers have an office where they can get work done during the off-session times. It may surprise many Alaskans to learn that lawmakers don't even have to stop by here to claim per diem when they are supposed to be in session.
“So the way it works is the legislator takes responsibility for it [per diem]. That legislator is accountable for it [per diem] and if there is ever any question, you know, folks need to talk to their legislator," said Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak.
There are no rules that require a lawmaker to do actual work to get the per diem, which is an addition to their annual salary and business expense account.
But is the public the right group to police lawmakers?
Legislators have different opinions and reasons as to whether they would take the money even if they were leaving for strictly personal reasons.
"That means that I am paying rent here...I suppose I could check out of my hotel for one day and see if I could get a room when I got back but that doesn't, you know…I wouldn't do it. I would keep my room to make sure I had a place to stay when I got back down there," said Rep. Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak.
"If I was on personal business, I wouldn't take per diem,” said Sen. Stevens.
For now at least, lawmakers are left to themselves to decide what's legal and what's ethical when it comes to receiving per diem pay.
It’s an ambiguity none of the leading members of the Alaska House and Senate say they think needs to be changed.
But, in today's political landscape after years of ethical clouds in Juneau, should it be?
KTVA has sent an email to every state senator who has been excused from the special session over the last 18 days.
KTVA is in the process of making the same request of house members and will have more information available Friday.
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MayBeeBuzzy said on Monday, May 9 at 1:24 AM
Special Session. PER DIEM??? Absolutely NOT !!! ... unless the common citizen (yes, I feel like a "commoner") gets a per diem also. We have to pay astronomical plane fare to get to our Capitol (if we even can, considering the weather conditions). "Medical issues... state business... personal leaves of absence..." How many of us plain folk would still have a job after these demands? This has been a circus for years, and it's not entertainment any more. Just look back at what a fiasco our state government has been in the last few years. It's time for a change. No wonder we have such a low voter turnout. People are losing faith. That's what happens when you let the fox into the hen house. How can we let this go on?
66705618Kathie said on Saturday, May 7 at 5:53 PM
Give me a break!! up to the public??? it was the public that voted three times to move the capital to Anchorage where the majority of the public lives. keep them home to do their business for the public. and save the per diem.
66664001Nancy Bee said on Friday, May 6 at 9:59 AM
All you need to do is remember the names, if you recognize it on the ballot, vote for anyone else. How do you get paid per diem to go on vacation? When I was able to collect per diem you had to physically be in attendance or away from home on company business. About time to do business in Anchorage, where we can actually see what should be going on.
66597089akrock said on Friday, May 6 at 9:34 AM
$232.00 a day??? With all the homeless and minimum wage workers, this is outrageous. This is also Alaska, they should be staying in a bunk house like all the other transient workers.
66595493David said on Friday, May 6 at 9:03 AM
I believe that if you collect Per Diem you should be at work and if you are not present and collect it is fraud plain and simple. That is what is required when us simple folk travel for buisness.The amount that you gave is room cost plus meals why are they not required to file travel vouchers to justify recieving the payments that way if they claim it and they are not present they sign the form it is fraud and hence lose their position this is our money they are being paid from.
66593181Ben@Tok said on Friday, May 6 at 8:59 AM
we pay almost $100,000,000 a year for the first three branches of government and they still whine for more money. most people do not make six figure incomes and have to pay for their own food and lodging. if they want per diem drop the salaries to $50-$60,000 a year. this will also give them a real world perspective, allowing them to make better decisions for the majority of the people, not just the one percent on the top! Thomas Jefferson said when the government stops working for the people, it is the peoples responsibility to replace that government! he also shot a man dead on the whitehouse lawn for purgory. we could really clean up if we got rid of people in power who can not tell the truth. if you dig your grave, lie in it! take responsibility for your actions!
66592996Ardiva said on Friday, May 6 at 8:54 AM
I'm with Sen. Hollis French.
66592654Nicole said on Friday, May 6 at 7:54 AM
We shouldn't even be having a special session. The Legislators need to actually work when their in session and get the job done! DO YOUR JOB and stop waisting our money.
66588547Lois said on Friday, May 6 at 1:01 AM
I have always thought they should just build a barracks and mess hall the legislators and forget giving them per diem. If they had to live under those conditions, I bet they would finish up the state's business in a timely manner.
66569902sammy said on Thursday, May 5 at 11:06 PM
no
66568504Kevin said on Thursday, May 5 at 9:24 PM
I don't think they should get paid during special sessions. Unless, of course, the session was due to a crisis. This one was caused by pantywaists afraid to do their jobs.
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