Utah Legislature: Lawmaker proposes cut to legislators' compensation

SALT LAKE CITY — Urban state legislators would take a substantial reduction in compensation — up to half of their paychecks — if a proposal by one of their colleagues passes the 2010 Legislature.

Rep. John Dougall, R-American Fork, says it is a "question of fairness" that urban legislators end up with more take-home money for their service than do rural legislators.

That's because all 104 lawmakers during the annual 45-day general session, no matter where they live, currently get hotel and meal expenses — whether they stay in a hotel or not, whether they eat at a restaurant or not.

If HJR28 were to pass, it would save state taxpayers some cash — maybe half a million dollars a year — but that would do little in trying to close the $700 million budget shortfall in the 2010-2011 budget lawmakers are struggling with.

But while the amount is relatively small, the impact on some legislators' pocketbooks would not be.

Currently, each legislator gets $106 a day in hotel expenses (set by federal guidelines) and $61 a day per diem. If they don't actually stay in a hotel, they should claim that daily $106 on their income taxes. They also get $61 a day to defer other expenses, like meals.

Because it is possible for a legislator to go through many general session days eating free — food is provided in many breakfasts, snacks during the day, lunches and dinners at formally scheduled events, mostly paid for by lobbyists — that daily $61 also can be pocketed. Currently, about 25 of 104 legislators live so far away that they routinely stay in hotels during the session.

Both payments come on Saturdays and Sundays during the general session, even though legislators are not on Capitol Hill those days.

(House members pay out of their own pockets for Democratic and GOP caucus lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the session. The Senate's caucus lunches are still provided by lobbyists.)

It's possible for a frugal urban legislator to make $167 a day in those "expenses," even though they are not really expenses.

Meanwhile, he or she earns just $117 a day in actual salary.

In short, a legislator living and eating at home (or eating free on a lobbyist's tab) makes more money in "expense reimbursement" than in salary.

An urban legislator could lose $7,535 a year in income if HJR28 passes.