Minnesota Senate cuts daily expense payments

Minnesota state senators will now have to get by on $86 a day for meals and other expenses when the Legislature is in session.

Members of the Senate Rules Committee voted Monday to reduce the daily expense payments known as per diem by $10 dollars. The move is estimated to save about $100,000 a year. But with the state facing a projected $6.2 billion budget deficit, Republican See. Geoff Michel of Edina told his fellow committee members that the reduction is mostly symbolic.

"The first moves of a state Senate are important, and symbolism is important," Michel said. "What I've heard pretty strongly from some of our members is that they think this is a part-time Legislature. That's what the constitution calls for, and that it's an honor to serve, and in touch budget times we've got to do things like this."

The Senate will also stop reimbursements to lawmakers and staff that travel to events out of state during the session. State lawmakers earn a base salary before expenses of just over $31,000.