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Cat6
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 12:34:43 PM
I don’t see this in the story, so I’ll ask: what is the total per diem rate, then. The Federal allowed limits are $137 for lodging and $71 for meals and incidentals. However, if anyone is claiming that they should be spending that much, they’re out of their minds. A long-term rental should cut down the costs of lodging and being able to cook at home reduces the cost of food.
nicholas
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 12:49:17 PM
They should have to abide by the IRS guidelines like the rest of us do. Also, why do they get reimbursed for meals? This is there job - what they have chosen to do. I do not get reimbursed for my meals, gas to/from work, etc. I feel they are milking the taxpayers.
Roch55904
rochester, mn
alf_neuma
n
Rochester, Mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 3:49:10 PM
It should be noted that the per diem compensation has one other advantage—it is not taxable income. Ann Lynch managed to pullin $41,000—more than her salary. One can only wonder how that was spent. Check the bar tab.
graciesue
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 4:16:04 PM
Has any one ever wondered as I have, why would one spend hundreds of thousands to get a job that pays $31,149.90plus per diem? I think the answer is clear.
PurpleFan
Rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 6:37:40 PM
I guess if I didn’t have to spend one nickel of my own money on gas or food and their other unseen perks, $31,000 doesn’t seem so bad. Career politicians who can talk a good talk....
Sea_wolfm
an
Fountain, MN
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 7:47:06 PM
So who’s in charge of overseeing all this? 35,000 in per diem? No one questions this? Another reason ALL politicians produce an area of negative pressure (they suck)
paying2mu
ch
Byron, MN
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 8:46:50 PM
They all are looking to line their pockets and giving it to us in the backdoor, thanks dummycrats
flightlin
e
Rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 8:52:07 PM
Most companies that send employees to work at someplace other than their normal workplace(In this case it is their home districts), pay per diem and mileage. These folks still have to pay for their fixed expenses in their home districts such as mortgages, kids, taxes etc. If per diem is not paid, only independently wealthy folks could afford to be in these positions.
The daily per diem does not seem out of line to me. I have worked all over the US and overseas on a per diem basis at times and rarely will someone get rich working away from home.
If a person has never done that for an extended time themselves, it may seem extravagant, but it is really not, except for the ones who just go across town to the capitol.
It also may not seem fair to many on the low end of who have never heard of this “per diem thing”
Durangoki
dd
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 9:03:11 PM
$3000 a month per diem? That would allow them to buy two houses in St Paul to stay in while doing buisness an hour away from their home district.
eeleel
Rochester, mn
Posted on 11/9/2009 at 9:08:13 PM
most employrsdon’t sent all of their employees on business every year.
Sea_wolfm
an
Fountain, MN
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 9:49:45 AM
flightline—these are not people working all over the country or overseas—these are residents of the state of Minnesota. At any given point in the state-you are never 4 hours from the capitol.
Over 3K a month is too much
flightlin
e
Rochester, mn
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 1:42:11 PM
sea_wolfman—I don’t think it is excessive, you do. Like I said, few people get rich working out on per diem. Ask them about it next election.
