Minnesota's 134 House members will get a retroactive $20 bump in their per diem payments, with the change coming as lawmakers are also poised to see a July 1 salary hike.
Legislators in the lower chamber previously could qualify for a $66 payment to cover expenses like meals each day they are conducting official work. The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee signed off Wednesday on a resolution boosting that figure to align with the Senate's $86 payments.
"This is intended to match the Senate per diem," said DFL House Majority Leader Jamie Long of Minneapolis, adding that they "certainly don't believe the Senate is worth $20 more a day for the work that they do on behalf of our state."
Per diems can account for a sizable portion of some lawmakers' income — occasionally topping $10,000 — while others choose not to accept the money. Lawmakers can also file for reimbursement for a range of expenses, including lodging and mileage.
GOP committee members opposed the move, questioning the timing of a post-session vote and the fact that documents detailing the changes weren't publicly posted until the night before Wednesday's committee meeting.
"I find it concerning that we're raising per diem once we're out of session. The public is not paying attention. It's retroactive. I don't know why this wasn't done earlier," said Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove. Rep. Elliott Engen, R-White Bear Township, called the move "self-centered" and "egregious."
However, Rep. John Huot, DFL-Rosemount, said the change had been discussed and included in a state government budget bill lawmakers passed last month.
Long said he indicated earlier this year that he wanted to boost per diems, but they needed to wait until the Legislature appropriated the money to make the change. Recent staff absences left them scrambling and they had to post the documents late, he said.
