Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Rural officials may get more aid

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 24, 2007 at midnight

Text size  

More Colorado Government

More stories »

Rural lawmakers struggling with rising gas and housing prices would get more expense money under a bill backed by the Senate on Friday.

Senate Bill 139, by Sen. Jack Taylor, R-Steamboat Springs, raises their daily per diem from $99 to $149.

The lone opposition came from Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, who said all lawmakers should get a bump.

"We're all scraping by with the meager pay we get down here," he said.

Lawmakers who live in the 10-county area receive a per diem of $45, while those who live outside that area get $54 more.

The reason is that lawmakers who live in the metro area do not have to travel long distances and maintain two residences, as do rural lawmakers who leave behind their homes and families for the 120-day legislative session.

"It's not fair for rural legislators to come here and try to live on what we live on," said Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, who defended the increase. "We get to go home at night."

In Colorado, lawmakers receive $30,000 annually, slightly more than the average of lawmakers in the other 50 states - $25,908, according to the Council of State Governments.

Lawmakers' per diem has not been increased since 1989.

But in Colorado it has become tougher for rural legislators to make ends meet.

First, the legislature outlawed the use of campaign funds to buy office supplies. Last year, Tupa pushed through a law banning cash gifts to set up "office accounts" to help offset rural lawmakers' expenses.

In November, voters approved Amendment 41, making it illegal for lawmakers to accept any gift worth more than $50 in a calendar year.

"We're on our way making the legislature a rich man's playground or a trust-fund baby's play pen because you can't afford to serve up here," Groff said.The final vote in the Senate is Monday.