Absent lawmakers collecting per diem pay for special session
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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- There is a special session in progress, but you'd never know it by looking at the Senate or the House.
Only the budget writers and the legislative bigwigs are at work. Most of the rest are back home.
But 29 senators are collecting per diem pay -- $90 a day.
Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, is at the state Capitol every day, and says $90 is a bargain.
"We don't get paid enough money. It costs more down here to live than what we get paid," she said.
The IRS agrees, saying the cost of living here is $120 a day. But some who are collecting money aren't at work.
But Sen. Karen Keiser, D-South King County, says taxpayers should not get mad.
"Even when you aren't physically here, you are still working as a senator," she said. "Either you are dealing with things in your district, meeting with constituents or working at these blasted computers."
Taxpayers may consider Keiser a good guy. She's only billing when she’s at work. Others may not be that image-conscious, or aware of what some taxpayers feel.
"I'd just as soon they weren't collecting it, that they'd done their job when they were supposed to and they wouldn't even have to have the leaders in session now," said Dan Renn, a taxpayer.
"Ninety bucks a day for doing nothing, is that what you're saying," said Shirley Clark, another taxpayer.
Keiser says the taxpayers’ message is clear.
"I'm hopeful we'll get this budget thing wrapped up in a couple of days, and we can all go home," she said.
And it could very well happen.
"Maybe we can do a deal next week," said House budget writer Rep. Ross Hunter. "I think we are close to figuring out what we want to do, but we do have to have the votes. Can we get there? That's going to be hard work."
Only the budget writers and the legislative bigwigs are at work. Most of the rest are back home.
But 29 senators are collecting per diem pay -- $90 a day.
Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, is at the state Capitol every day, and says $90 is a bargain.
"We don't get paid enough money. It costs more down here to live than what we get paid," she said.
The IRS agrees, saying the cost of living here is $120 a day. But some who are collecting money aren't at work.
But Sen. Karen Keiser, D-South King County, says taxpayers should not get mad.
"Even when you aren't physically here, you are still working as a senator," she said. "Either you are dealing with things in your district, meeting with constituents or working at these blasted computers."
Taxpayers may consider Keiser a good guy. She's only billing when she’s at work. Others may not be that image-conscious, or aware of what some taxpayers feel.
"I'd just as soon they weren't collecting it, that they'd done their job when they were supposed to and they wouldn't even have to have the leaders in session now," said Dan Renn, a taxpayer.
"Ninety bucks a day for doing nothing, is that what you're saying," said Shirley Clark, another taxpayer.
Keiser says the taxpayers’ message is clear.
"I'm hopeful we'll get this budget thing wrapped up in a couple of days, and we can all go home," she said.
And it could very well happen.
"Maybe we can do a deal next week," said House budget writer Rep. Ross Hunter. "I think we are close to figuring out what we want to do, but we do have to have the votes. Can we get there? That's going to be hard work."
