In light of the recent budget controversies surrounding the state Capitol, members of the state Legislature find themselves subject to the same fiscal scrutiny as other state agencies.
Personal expenditure accounts for the lawmakers are based on a claim-by-claim basis, leaving much of the burden for fiscal responsibility on the legislators themselves.
Both representatives and Senators are allotted daily charge accounts for personal expenses while at work in the state Capitol.
State Senate Democrats, on average, spent $2,184 more in per-diem charges than Republicans in 2001.
Sen. Joanne Huelsman, R-Waukesha, tied as the lowest-spending Senator in per-diem expenditures for those legislators who served throughout the 2001 legislative session.
“In the first two years of a Senate term, in order to hold down the line on costs, I didn’t send out mailings,” she said. “I also don’t charge any of my in-district miles. I’m in Madison for committee hearings, for session days, for a few other meetings, but that’s it. If I don’t have to be there for a meeting, I can work in my district office, which I pay for out of my pocket with the exception of a state computer. I think my time can be better used instead of sitting in Madison dreaming up new ways to spend more taxpayer dollars.”
Each Senator is allotted $66,008 dollars for office supplies over a two-year period.
Huelsman also spent the least amount of any state Senator on office supply expenditures in the 99-00 term, spending $15,903.94 during the period.
“I get concerned when anyone is not making the best use of available dollars, whether that be in your personal business or if you are an employee working for a private business or for the state of Wisconsin, you ought to manage your dollars so that you don’t use anymore than is absolutely needed,” she said.
Office-supply funding is allocated biennially, thus more current data is unavailable.
“Its everything they use to run the office. . . stamps, metered mail, any kind of publication or correspondence, staples, paper, you name it,” said Moni Rohr, assistant to Senate Chief Clerk Donald Schneider, responsible for office accounts and per-diem expenditures.
Per-diem expenditures are allotted up to $88 per day when the legislator is in the Capitol. For Madison-area legislators, the allowance is $44 per day.
Senate Majority leader Chuck Chvala and Senate President Fred Risser, both Madison Democrats, accounted for $9,768 and $9,680, respectively.
These figures place them slightly below the average Senate expenditures in per diem expenditures of $10,835.98. However, they each receive only $44 dollars per day as opposed to the standard $88 for non-local legislators.
Risser said because he lives in the area, he makes more frequent trips to the Capitol than other legislators may. He also said local legislators’ per-diem allowances are not tax exempt, but the allowances of more distant legislators are.
“The state law is that legislators who live within 50 miles of the Capitol get half per diems. It is totally taxable, plus Social Security,” he said. “The expense accounts of more distant legislators are not only tax free, but they are actually able to deduct more on their taxes than they get.”
“You are eligible for per diems when you are in Madison on business. Being in Madison, we spend quite a bit of time in the Capitol. That is why you find that the per diems for Black, Chvala and myself show what they do.”
Data for Assembly personal expenditures remained unavailable, as the office of the Chief Clerk did not produce statistical information on request.
Steve Baas, spokesman for Assembly speaker Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, said the office of the chief clerk has been in disarray recently.
“I think you got Pat on a bad day,” Baas said in reference to Assistant Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller, responsible for press relations. “We get a statement every month to see how we’re doing on our [office] account, but we don’t keep track of most of our expenses. We just tell them what we want.”
