"He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."
Matthew 25:33

Friday, February 2, 2007

BROD BLASTS HOUSE PER DIEM AND HOUSING ALLOWANCE INCREASES

As you all know by my previous posts, I am very irate about the increase in per diem our crooked legislators are getting away with. I will continue to post every thing I can find on this issue. Here is a press release from Representative Laura Brod (R-New Prague). At the end of this entry you will find all the members of the Rules Committee and their email address and phone numbers. Give em hell people!

ST. PAUL - Going back on a promise to Minnesotans that they would legislate in a “fiscally responsible” manner, House Democrats, with some support from a handful of Republican legislators, recently pushed through a healthy pay raise. What’s equally concerning, according to State Representative Laura Brod (R-New Prague) is that the move was made just less than two weeks into the 2007 session and was made without a vote of the entire House of Representatives.

“If this is the type of fiscal responsibility we’re going to see in January, just imagine what’s coming down the pike in May,” Brod said. “Hold on to your wallets.”

Brod noted that the action allows House lawmakers to receive $77 dollars each day for per diem - or a meal allowance - whether they spend it or not. They can also receive $1,200 per month to find a place to live. They can also receive this funding for the entire year. The Minnesota House is only in session for five months.

The move was approved by the DFL-controlled House Rules Committee, and does not require a full House floor vote.

“This is nothing more than a backdoor pay increase without open and honest debate,” Brod said. “I have taken dozens of calls on this issue. People are outraged, and they have every right to be."

“This is an awful message to our citizens and I strongly oppose it. Personally, I will not be accepting this per diem increase or the housing allowance,” Brod concluded.



Phone Number(651) area code
E-mail Address
Chair: Anthony "Tony" Sertich (DFL)
296-0172
rep.tony.sertich@house.mn

Vice Chair: Diane Loeffler (DFL)
296-4219
rep.diane.loeffler@house.mn

Lead-GOP: Erik Paulsen (R)
296-7449
rep.erik.paulsen@house.mn

Mark Buesgens (R)
296-5185
rep.mark.buesgens@house.mn

Lyndon Carlson (DFL)
296-4255
rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn

David Dill (DFL)
296-2190
rep.david.dill@house.mn

Ron Erhardt (R)
296-4363
rep.ron.erhardt@house.mn

Brad Finstad (R)
296-9303
rep.brad.finstad@house.mn

Debra Hilstrom (DFL)
296-3709
rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn

Melissa Hortman (DFL)
296-4280
rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn

Larry Howes (R)
296-2451
rep.larry.howes@house.mn

Al Juhnke (DFL)
296-6206
rep.al.juhnke@house.mn

Leon Lillie (DFL)
296-1188
rep.leon.lillie@house.mn

Doug Magnus (R)
296-5505
rep.doug.magnus@house.mn

Tim Mahoney (DFL)
296-4277
rep.tim.mahoney@house.mn

Erin Murphy (DFL)
296-8799
rep.erin.murphy@house.mn

Michael V. Nelson (DFL)
296-3751
rep.michael.nelson@house.mn

Dennis Ozment (R)
296-4306
rep.dennis.ozment@house.mn

Gene Pelowski Jr. (DFL)
296-8637
rep.gene.pelowski@house.mn

Aaron Peterson (DFL)
296-4228
rep.aaron.peterson@house.mn

Steve Simon (DFL)
296-9889
rep.steve.simon@house.mn

Dean Simpson (R)
296-4293
rep.dean.simpson@house.mn

Loren Solberg (DFL)
296-2365
rep.loren.solberg@house.mn

Paul Thissen (DFL)
296-5375
rep.paul.thissen@house.mn

Kathy Tingelstad (R)
296-5369
rep.kathy.tingelstad@house.mn

Torrey Westrom (R)
296-4929
rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn

Ryan Winkler (DFL)
296-7026
rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn

1 comment:

Bill Jungbauer said...

You can find out about all the per diem Representative Brod has taken by contacting Senate Fiscal Services. I talked to Eileen M. Lunzer at 651-296-2339. She will ask you to fax or email a formal request for information.