Lawmakers in the state House of Representatives bristled Thursday at a proposal that would have cut their travel and expense allowances, and the idea was shelved. State Rep. Mack “Bodi” White, R-Denham Springs, offered the idea as the House considered the $89 million spending plan for legislative agencies. White withdrew the proposal after facing opposition from his colleagues. White pitched the proposal to shrink the legislative budget as a way to share the types of cuts other agencies have faced in several years of budget shortfalls. The amendment White offered for the legislative budget would have cut by 7% the monthly expense allowance and per diem rate paid to lawmakers in the House for attending meetings and for the days they are in a legislative session. It also would have dropped the amount that the House could spend on travel in the 2011-12 fiscal year by 10%. White said the proposal would have saved $202,000 next year. House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, called White’s proposal an election year gimmick. He said the House and Senate plan to shrink spending next year through tactics such as leaving positions vacant positions—not pay cuts.
Today’s poll question: Should legislators cut their travel and per diem rates?
