ST. PAUL -- Minnesota senators overwhelmingly voted to increase their daily expense reimbursements by $30, effectively ending a debate about whether legislators are taking a raise without the public's knowledge.
The 59-7 vote affirms a Senate Rules Committee's bipartisan earlier decision to bump the so-called per diem payment from $66 to $96 a day.
Republicans led by Sen. Ray Vandeveer of Forest Lake sought a floor debate on the issue, saying it was decided without transparency because the Rules Committee doesn't include all senators.
Democrats, who control the Senate, allowed a vote but drafted the resolution to require that those who voted against the increase to submit a written statement if they want per diem payments.
Per diem is in addition to a legislator's $31,140 annual salary. Lawmakers also receive mileage reimbursements and some get money for lodging in St. Paul.
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Senators can skip per diem entirely, or take up to $96 for each day during the legislative session and for days during the rest of the year on which they conduct legislative business. All but five senators draw the maximum.
Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen opposed the resolution, meaning he would have to write to Senate officials before receiving any per diem.
That's no problem, the Alexandria Republican said, because he already requested less than the maximum. Ingebrigtsen said a 40-percent per diem increase is too much at once.
"I just don't agree with it. $96?" he said.
Instead, Ingebrigtsen said he will collect $76 daily this year, $86 in 2008 and $96 the following year, he said.
Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, called the $30 hike "an inflationary increase" and said per diem hasn't been raised in at least four years.
Sen. Rod Skoe, who supported the resolution, said legislative pay increases aren't an issue for constituents in his northwestern Minnesota district.
"Not a bit," Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, said of public reaction at home to the ongoing Senate debate. People understand lawmakers aren't getting rich, he added.
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The House Rules Committee also passed a per diem increase last month, but only from $66 to $77. No vote is planned in the full House.
Scott Wente works for Forum Communications Co., which owns the Bemidji Pioneer.
