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Will ending per diems hurt local business?

Restaurateurs fret over losses if $165 daily stipend to state lawmakers is traded for a pay increase
Jimmy Vielkin, Times Union  Copyright 2012 Times Union. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Jimmy Vielkind
Published 11:07 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, 2012


ALBANY — Raise pay for state lawmakers or don't, but please don't get rid of their per diems.

There's talk that a pay raise for the legislators might be hitched to the elimination of the $165 per diem payment that members of the Assembly and Senate get for each day spent at the Capitol while working on official business.

The link was first reported last month by the New York Post, citing a senior Democratic member of the Assembly. It's prompted head-scratching by some lawmakers and concern at Albany businesses that count legislators among their best customers.

"Certainly during session, if you're here on a Monday everybody knows everybody in the room," said Dominick Purnomo, a co-owner of Yono's on Chapel Street. "If all of a sudden they took those payments away, and people decided to start making it a road trip, I certainly think that would hurt business."

The state pays $165 for a night in Albany to cover lodging (up to $104) and meals. Legislators on official business — including legislators who live more than 35 miles from the Capitol — can collect without submitting receipts for each of the 62 scheduled work days they had this year. The rate is set by the Internal Revenue Service based on cost of living.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....13.php#ixzz1zm6FUMjX

Quoted from 1251

Should state lawmakers get a pay raise?

The latest gazette poll.........................1 yes        60 no

I'm guessin' the one belongs to the commie planning board troll  

Quoted from mikechristine1

I'm sure you are absolutely correct on who the one vote belongs to.

I cannot fathom what the basis is for them wanting a raise.   Oh, because they haven't gotten one in 10 or so years?    So what.   They are already getting paid over $100,000 in their legislative pay!!!!.   Remember Greg Floyds report.   Virtually each and every one has a so-called committee assignment and gets five figures just for that on top of the "base" salary.

Getting well over $100,000 for generally less than six months of work!!!    ROFL

These people are PART TIME employees.   Most all have jobs "back home" which pay them well


I say CUT THEIR PAY!!!    To about $30,000 per year!