While campaigning, freshman lawmaker Lynda Wilson made a promise: If elected, she wouldn’t accept state-paid food and lodging allowances during special sessions.
“If the government can’t get their job done in the time allotted, I wasn’t going to burden the state any further,” the Vancouver representative said.
She kept her word.
But she didn’t anticipate the 2015 legislative session would be the longest single-year session in the state’s history.
Lawmakers are allowed $120 per day to help offset food and lodging expenses while they are in session. They also are reimbursed for some mileage costs. The costs from the three special overtime sessions already top $600,000 with per diem, travel and temporary staff costs for both chambers. The House has not finished tallying its total. Lawmakers were set to adjourn at the end of April but were unable to agree on a balanced budget until July.
State Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, accepted the most money of the lawmakers from the Southwest Washington delegation.
Rivers claimed $3,620 in daily stipends and $639.44 in mileage.
“I wouldn’t be able to be a legislator if I didn’t have the assistance of per diem,” Rivers said. “I was there (in Olympia). And I was active. … I think some people don’t take per diem, and they aren’t there.”
Rivers said limiting per diem would mean only the state’s wealthiest could run for office.
“It would be a rich man’s Legislature,” she said, “where people who don’t know what it’s like to struggle will make decisions for those who do struggle.”
Rivers is working on legislation to curb special sessions. The measure she’s drafting would prohibit special sessions to focus on budgetary issues.
“If you can’t get it done by the previous session, you revert to the previous biennial budget,” she said, describing her proposed measure.
Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, collected $1,320 in per diem and $483 in mileage reimbursements. Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, did not accept per diem but was reimbursed $792.30 for mileage.
“We didn’t get our work done, and therefore it just isn’t my practice to accept per diems during special sessions,” Cleveland said.
In the House, Reps. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, and Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, claimed the most per diem. Both lawmakers hold leadership positions. Moeller claimed 13 days for $1,560; Harris claimed 10 days for $1,200.
Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver, requested $720; Reps. Liz Pike, R-Camas, and Brandon Vick, R-Vancouver, both requested $600.
Wilson said she could see accepting per diem or at least mileage reimbursements in the future.
“I don’t think legislators should go backwards or lose in the whole spectrum of things,” Wilson said.
“The goal is to get done on time, so that is what we should be doing,” she said.
