Minnesota Senate Cuts Daily Expense Payments

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The new Republican legislative majorities are tightening up on their own members' costs, including daily expense payments for senators and housing allowances for representatives.

The House Rules Committee on Monday reduced the maximum housing allowance by 25 percent to $21,600 over the two-year legislative session.

The lodging allowance now equates to $900 a month instead of $1,200 a month. It's offered to members who live at least 50 miles from the Capitol.

Earlier Monday, a Senate rules panel approved a $10 cut in daily expense payments, a 10 percent reduction. Senators can now claim $86 a day instead of $96.

Minnesota faces a $6.2 billion deficit over the next two years.

The base salary for state legislators is $31,140, plus allowances for daily living expenses, lodging, mileage and telecommunications.

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