Wisconsin State Lawmakers Claim More Than $1.25 Million in Daily Allowances in 2019
Friday, February 7th, 2020 -- 12:43 PM
(AP) -Wisconsin state lawmakers claimed more than $1.25 million in daily allowances last year, a 6% decrease from the previous budget-writing year in 2017.The Wisconsin State Journal reported Thursday on the latest figures from members of the state Senate and Assembly. The payments can be claimed by lawmakers for daily expenses they accrue for work in the state Capitol. The payments are in addition to their annual salary of $52,999. The payments cover the year in which the Republican-controlled Legislature debated and passed a state budget. It was also the first year of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ term, which was marked by the passage of fewer bills than when Republican Scott Walker worked with a GOP Legislature. The top recipient between both state legislative chambers was Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who received $20,125 and spent 175 days in the Capitol.
Other top recipients in the Senate included Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-West Point, with $15,180 for 142 days, and Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, with $14,145 for 123 days in Madison. Fitzgerald’s time spent in the Capitol in 2019 was topped only by Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, who clocked 208 days and received $10,400 in per diem payouts. Risser ranked 19th in per diem payouts in the Senate and 56th between the two chambers. The cap for the daily allowance is $115 for Senate lawmakers who live outside of Dane County and $57.50 for those who live within the county.
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