One hard-pressed group of workers in California just got a little break. Legislators will get another $3 a day in per diem payments, up to $173 for each back-breaking day they put in at the Capitol.
The per diem payments are linked to the amount given federal workers who must travel to Sacramento on business, so the hike is pretty much one of those autopilot deals. The money will help them eke out a living on their measly $116,208 annual salaries.
Still, it's small reward for state Assembly members and senators. After all, they've done such a great job on the budget, water issues, underperforming schools, crumbling infrastructure, transportation needs...
That per diem that California legislators give themselves should be avaiable to every worker in California. First of all, as I understand it, it's not counted as taxable income. So, whatever they get as this so-called per diem is just free and clear money to them.
Employers ought to start doing this. Figure a person's base salary at $1,000. Anything over that is per diem. This reduces the employer's withholding and workers' compensation payments, since such amounts are based on salary, freeing up more money for them to run their businesses. It also reduces the tax liability of employees. It's win-win.
And, it must be legal, since the California Legislature is doing it.
They dont deserve a dime or a day off for the crappy job they have done.
They should have refused the money in principle. These legislators aren't doing their job and to add salt to the wound get an increase in their per diem. All the perks they get that in other states are not available should be totally eliminated.