11/7/2009 8:55:02 AM

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The numbers are fairly straightforward. Although Rep. Jeanne Poppe and Sen. Dan Sparks of Austin don't top any rankings of the state's "spending-est" legislators, they are among the top third in terms of reimbursement dollars received for lodging, travel and daily living expenses. Each of them took just over $25,000 so far this year, in addition to their salary of $31,140.

For some, it's become an annual tradition to express shock and outrage at these figures, and, given the current condition of Minnesota's finances, this year is no exception. Some members of the Legislature are talking about pay cuts, and Sen. Minority Leader David Senjem of Rochester has even suggested the creation of some type of dormitory for legislators, to help reduce lodging costs.

We'll resist the urge to take pot shots at any legislators who claimsmoney that they're legally entitled to claim. And, rather than suggesting a radical belt-tightening measure for our legislators, we support a course of action that directly addresses the somewhat complex matter of "per diem" payments, which are meant to cover legislators' meals and other day-to-day expenses that crop up.

For senators, the per diem is $96 per day. House members are expected to get by on just $77 per day, seven days per week, during the legislative session. When you crunch the numbers, that means that during the 2009 session, senators who claimed their full per diem received $12,768. House members could receive up to $10,241.

No receipts needed, no questions asked.

We believe very few legislators, perhaps none, actually spend all of their per diem dollars on food and expenses related to their work in St. Paul. It's supplemental income, and in 2007 it was increased substantially -- 45 percent in the Senate -- with very little fanfare. Voice votes in each chamber's respective rules committee were all that was needed.

We don't begrudge them the money. Legislators' pay hasn't increased since 1999, and the current salary seems inadequate for a job that, to be done well, requires much more than a four-month commitment. We'd expect little argument from Poppe, Sparks or Rep. Robin Brown (who, by the way, has claimed $20,558 in reimbursements this year).

But we would argue that it's time to make the system more equitable and above-board. As it is, some legislators are financially secure enough to simply forego the per diem, and thus receive praise for being frugal with taxpayers' money. Others must claim every nickel simply to make ends meet -- and thus risk becoming targets of fiscal watchdogs.

The solution?

We propose putting an end to the per diem system. In its place, we'd support a significant salary increase for all legislators, perhaps in an amount that approaches what they currently can receive through per diem.

This pay raise, which is long overdue, would create greater transparency in the compensation given to our public officials, and would also make more of their income subject to state and federal income taxes.

No one would have to worry about claiming per diem dollars, then being raked over the coals for doing so by a future opponent. Nor would anyone earn adulation for publicly declaring "I shall not take my per diem!" If any legislators truly believe that such a pay raise is excessive, we'd encourage them to quietly donate the extra money to a charity.

The only downside of our proposal? We'd have one less thing to talk about every fall.

It would be a good trade-off.

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