Legislative expenses drive up price of government
Beyond salary and outside close oversight, costs reach $2.7 million
By STACY FORSTER
sforster@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 16, 2004
When voters head to the polls in two weeks, they're probably not thinking about how many road trips their favorite candidate might make in the coming years.
In the last legislative session, taxpayers spent more than $2.7 million to cover the on-the-job expenses of state lawmakers. The money is in addition to their regular salary, some of it is tax free, and much of it is handed out on the honor system, something almost incomprehensible in the private sector.
