House Republicans criticize Senate Democrats over pay

Spendthrifts.

That's essentially what House Republicans are calling Senate Democrats for not following their example and reducing the per diems legislators are paid while in Richmond on government business.

Last month, leaders of the GOP-controlled House of Delegates announced a plan to save $1.1 million through several measures. Among them: a continued freeze on salary increases, and keeping per diem rates lower than the allowed amount.

Besides the House, the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general have also announced budget cuts in their respective offices in response to Virginia’s budget woes.

Del. Sam Nixon, R-Chesterfield, reiterated that message last week in a letter to Sens. Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, and Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, two of the ranking Democrats in the Senate.

Nixon, the House Majority Caucus chairman, in the letter said the Senate would save taxpayers $100,000 if it adopted those savings strategies.

“These changes can be enacted quickly,” he wrote. “Doing so would send an important signal to the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

The House per diem rates are $135, which is the same amount they were in 2008. They are paid to legislators as compensation for travel to the Capitol and for lodging and meal expenses. The Senate plans to keep its per diem at $169, which is the amount it paid last year.

The allowable 2009 per diem is $177, which is based on an Internal Revenue Service formula.

Nixon also noted the annual House salary of $17,640 has been constant since 1991.

The $18,000 salary paid to state senators hasn’t increased since 1988, according to Saslaw.

“It’s now worth about $8,000 or $9,000,” he said of the legislative salary Monday morning.

He accused House Republicans of “grandstanding” to score political points.

“We’re fully capable of running our own business,” Saslaw added, noting the House savings will have little effect on achieving the estimated $2.9 billion in spending cuts needed to offset a revenue chasm in the budget.

Legislators will work to find those cuts and balance the biennial budget during the six-week legislative session that convenes Wednesday.

-- Julian Walker

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