Changes to lawmaker per diem, pay are panel topics

Independent Citizens Commission Vice Chair Chuck Banks, right, speaks while commissioner Stephen Tipton looks on.
Independent Citizens Commission Vice Chair Chuck Banks, right, speaks while commissioner Stephen Tipton looks on.

State lawmakers would no longer receive full per diem for attending a meeting of a committee on which they don't serve outside of a legislative session under a preliminary proposal floated Friday by the Independent Citizens Commission.

The members also talked for the first time about proposed salary increases for lawmakers. One commissioner called for more than doubling the current pay of $15,869 for most legislators and $17,771 for the Senate president and the House speaker.

The commission, which is tasked with setting salaries for elected officials, first spoke at length about per diem rules for state lawmakers and whether changes need to be made.

Currently, lawmakers can receive full per diem for attending a committee meeting even if they don't serve on the panel.

Under the preliminary proposal discussed Friday, only members of the committee would receive the full amount. Freshman members who aren't on the committee could receive half per diem by attending, while all others would not get one.

Legislators would still receive full per diem during a legislative or fiscal session.

Commissioner Mitch Berry led the discussion on the proposed change.

"People really do not like the fact that members of the General Assembly show up to committee meetings, especially when they're not on the committee, sign in and go back home and collect the $140 or whatever the rate may be," he said.

The freshmen members were allowed the half-per diem under the recommendation because the panel believed they at times need to attend committee meetings to learn about their new positions.

"I'm willing to let them get up to snuff," Commissioner Stuart Hill said. "But after that, why are they showing up" to committee meetings?

The panel members agreed Senate President Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe, and House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, would be invited before the committee at a meeting later this month to talk about the proposal.

The seven-member panel talked at one point of requiring proof of lodging for legislators to receive a higher per diem beyond just meals and incidental expenses.

Berry, who raised that possibility, later said he was content to let the legislature "self-police," noting that the pay panel will see how they do.

"We're here for 4 more years," he said. "We can meet anytime and adjust salaries. We've got a hammer."

On salaries, Commissioner Stephen Tipton recommended the panel increase pay to $25,000 for most legislators and $30,000 for the House speaker and Senate president. Berry said his recommendations were roughly the same of those.

Chairman Larry Ross suggested $19,050 for legislators, except $21,325 for the leaders of the two chambers.

Vice Chairman Chuck Banks, meanwhile, recommended salaries ranging from $45,000 to $55,000. He said the panel needs to set a salary for "the long-term and not the short-term."

"I guarantee you they do 2/3 of a full-time job," Banks said. "There is a huge sacrifice for somebody to come here and serve, make no mistake about it, and everybody knows it."

Commissioner Barbara Graves said she believed Banks' figures were too high. Tipton said he would take issue with the figures exceeding the state's per-capita income.

Ross reminded commissioners no decision on salary would come Friday "or even Monday."

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