Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

House GOP Refuses Per Diems, Dems Cling to the Loot

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by

James A. Bacon
in ,

by Kerry Dougherty

Lemme get this straight.

The Commonwealth of Virginia is facing a possible $2.7 billion shortfall over the next two years, due to lost revenue from the pandemic shutdowns.

Yet, in the wake of this fiscal crisis, Democrats decided to award themselves a fat per diem – more than $200 a day it turns out – while working from home. The per diem is intended to be used by members for hotels and meals while in Richmond.

Are House Democrats insane? Did they think Virginians wouldn’t notice this misuse of public funds?

Worse, are these greedy politicians unaware that tens of thousands of Virginians remain unemployed and are struggling to support their families while they merrily slurp up extra tax dollars? The optics of this chicanery are obscene.

Let’s back up.

State lawmakers were summoned to Richmond this week to work on readjustments to the tattered budget. Once there, however, Democrats in the House of Delegates became fearful of catching COVID-19 from their socially spaced desks in the Siegel Center at VCU.

So they called for a vote on working remotely.

The Democrats voted to go home. The Republican minority voted to stay.

The homebodies won.

Then the Dems  proposed a resolution – HR516 – giving every member of the House a per diem, which is intended to defray the expense of staying in Richmond doing the peoples’ business.

Of course, the delegates weren’t going to be ensconced in Richmond hotels. And they wouldn’t be eating in capital city restaurants. They would be back in their homes.

Still, the vote was taken and the Democrats voted unanimously to take the funds.

The GOP voted unanimously against taking the travel money.

The takers won.

On Wednesday, House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert wrote a letter to the clerk of the house telling her that GOP delegates wouldn’t accept the per diem.

Excellent, Del. Gilbert. Save that letter and use it during next year’s delegate races. It ought to appear in every Republican campaign ad.

It will be fun hearing Democratic candidates defend this insufferable behavior.

Oh, and by the way, yesterday’s Zoom session of the House of Delegates was a mess.

“It was bad,” Del. Glenn Davis of Virginia Beach told me last night. “Not just ordinary bad. Really bad.”

Davis said some members in rural areas with weak signals were unable to keep a steady audio stream. Others were blocked from entering Zoom meetings because too many people were using the app.

“Apparently they had the $14.99 plan that maxes out at 100,” joked Davis who at one point during the day Tweeted to his constituents that he couldn’t get back into a meeting because it was at capacity.

Despite the SNAFUs and frustrations, Democrat House members no doubt found some measure of solace, knowing they were soaking the taxpayers for an additional $200 a day.

To travel between their bedrooms and kitchens.

This column is re-published with permission from Kerry: Unemployed & Unedited.

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46 responses to “House GOP Refuses Per Diems, Dems Cling to the Loot”

  1. vaconsumeradvocate Avatar
    vaconsumeradvocate

    Rural folks may not be able to GET enough bandwidth. The over the air service I have limits me to 40 GB per month for $177. Then I can buy 1 GB at a time for $10 per GB. If anyone has faced that, it’s not much internet even for one person for a month. That high cost may force some legislators to look harder at the per diem because the $10 per 1GB won’t cover even one day’s meeting.

    I tried to listen to the House meeting yesterday from my office but found blank screen for the first 20 min or so. It was a disaster from my perspective.

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      Now don’t be talking any realities here, vaconsumeradvocate, this is such an awesome campaign issue for the GOP – they’re no more going to let this go than a dog on a bone!

      I had a question that maybe Dick or Steve can answer.

      Do GA critters get funding for a local office including internet?

    2. Steve Haner Avatar
      Steve Haner

      Legislators also get an office allowance on top of the per diem, for just such expenses. Taking the per diem (designed for hotel and food) for meeting from home is silly. Even more silly is being afraid to copy what the Senate is doing, spread out in that large arena. Then they would be here. They are not afraid of being on the floor. They are afraid of being in town where their colleagues can speak privately, lobbyists or citizens might find them in the parking lot or the halls….Stand by for more in a piece I just reviewed for Jim. The Senate approach is still problematic, but the House approach unconstitutional and dangerous.

      Granted, this virtual session is highlighting the huge digital divide, geographic and economic.

      1. kls59 Avatar
        kls59

        ‘SILLY”?
        If they were USG workers, they would be fired and prosecuted. It’s illegal for govt workers to claim such.

        This is criminal!

        1. Steve Haner Avatar
          Steve Haner

          IRS might agree. If they actually do this, that’s the first step — drop a dime with the IRS. You are right, if the shipyard paid me for travel and I didn’t actually travel, it would have been a federal offense with jail. I’d have had to worry about the defense contract auditors and the IRS.

          1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
            Nancy_Naive

            Had my chestnuts handed to me for that. Bought a plane ticket two months prior to a long-scheduled meeting using my credit card to get a discount. When the cc bill arrived, I vouchered the trip a month prior to it happening. Company paid me, I paid the cc company, who paid AA and the world was right.

            The next month I vouchered the actual trip, hotel, car, food.

            Two months later, you’d have thought the FBI had caught Capone on tax fraud. The DCA auditors came to the office, reamed our comptroller, who reamed me.

      2. djrippert Avatar
        djrippert

        I will be joining a Zoom call in 24 minutes. I participate on Zoom calls about every other day. When I am in a place where I can’t connect to the internet via WiFi I dial into Zoom as an audio-only participant. In other words, I participate as if it were an old fashioned conference call. Guess what? It works fine. If there are presentation materials I download and print them so I can reference those materials while operating as an audio-only participant.

        I’ve been on some pretty large Zoom calls as a video participant. However, I am boggled by the idea of 100 delegates simultaneously participating on a Zoom call.

  2. vaconsumeradvocate Avatar
    vaconsumeradvocate

    Rural folks may not be able to GET enough bandwidth. The over the air service I have limits me to 40 GB per month for $177. Then I can buy 1 GB at a time for $10 per GB. If anyone has faced that, it’s not much internet even for one person for a month. That high cost may force some legislators to look harder at the per diem because the $10 per 1GB won’t cover even one day’s meeting.

    I tried to listen to the House meeting yesterday from my office but found blank screen for the first 20 min or so. It was a disaster from my perspective.

  3. kls59 Avatar
    kls59

    And yet people are surprised at this… who’s the real fool?

  4. kls59 Avatar
    kls59

    And yet people are surprised at this… who’s the real fool?

  5. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    Since we do have a part-time legislature and as far as I know most all have other employment – being able to conduct business virtually from a home office ought to have some appeal – I would think.

    And yes, taxpayers should pay for that office including internet.

    1. Steve Haner Avatar
      Steve Haner

      Defend them when they have a leg to stand on, Larry. You just look dumb defending dumb. WE DO give them a nice office allowance. And if you think the computer and account we subsidize is used just for state business, I’d like to sell you the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

      And of course when they are in town (going back to something Kerry wrote), they don’t have to pay for many meals in Richmond restaurants, certainly not dinners. Lobbyists happy to provide that….

      1. djrippert Avatar
        djrippert

        I seem to recall that the office expense has taxes deducted and withheld in a tacit admission that the money is really a form of compensation rather than an allowance for legitimate office expenses.

        I wonder if taxes are being withheld from these per diems. Normally per diems would be tax-free since they represent reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. However, where there is no out of town expense the money should be taxed.

        Do Richmond based GA members still get the per diem? They shouldn’t. When I hosted meeting in DC for colleagues from around the world they got per diems but I did not. If Richmond legislators take per diems but stay in their own houses during the session they need to pay taxes on the per diems.

        Maybe it is time to call 1 800 TAX – CHEAT

    2. Nancy_Naive Avatar
      Nancy_Naive

      Larry, buy the HRBT! Then for the sake of all that is good and natural, blow it up!

      1. WayneS Avatar
        WayneS

        I call dibs on the ferry franchise!

        Solar-powered, of course.

        1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
          Nancy_Naive

          Nightly runs.

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            Darn it! I guess I’m going to need batteries in the bilge.

          2. Nancy_Naive Avatar
            Nancy_Naive

            Oh, don’t do that. It’s dangerous. Just drag ’em by the wires behind the boat. If the water temperature is too cold, cross-wire them.

    3. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      Larry,

      Perhaps you should consider simply admitting that the democrats are wrong on this issue. Per diems are for expenses incurred while away from home. Everybody knows that. Demanding/accepting a per diem while at home is wrong. The other issues you and others have raised in defense of this action (office expense, internet expense, etc) have been addressed. As pointed out by others, those expenses are covered by an existing allowance that no one is trying to take away.

      Face it – your good buddies are just flat out wrong on this one.

  6. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    Since we do have a part-time legislature and as far as I know most all have other employment – being able to conduct business virtually from a home office ought to have some appeal – I would think.

    And yes, taxpayers should pay for that office including internet.

    1. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      Larry,

      Perhaps you should consider simply admitting that the democrats are wrong on this issue. Per diems are for expenses incurred while away from home. Everybody knows that. Demanding/accepting a per diem while at home is wrong. The other issues you and others have raised in defense of this action (office expense, internet expense, etc) have been addressed. As pointed out by others, those expenses are covered by an existing allowance that no one is trying to take away.

      Face it – your good buddies are just flat out wrong on this one.

    2. Nancy_Naive Avatar
      Nancy_Naive

      Larry, buy the HRBT! Then for the sake of all that is good and natural, blow it up!

      1. WayneS Avatar
        WayneS

        I call dibs on the ferry franchise!

        Solar-powered, of course.

        1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
          Nancy_Naive

          Nightly runs.

  7. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    “Worse, are these greedy politicians unaware that tens of thousands of Virginians remain unemployed and are struggling to support their families while they merrily slurp up extra tax dollars? ”

    Actually, it is worse than that, even: they are greedy politicians who ARE aware that tens of thousands of Virginians remain unemployed and are struggling to support their families while they merrily slurp up extra tax dollars?

  8. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    “Worse, are these greedy politicians unaware that tens of thousands of Virginians remain unemployed and are struggling to support their families while they merrily slurp up extra tax dollars? ”

    Actually, it is worse than that, even: they are greedy politicians who ARE aware that tens of thousands of Virginians remain unemployed and are struggling to support their families while they merrily slurp up extra tax dollars?

  9. kls59 Avatar
    kls59

    easiest solution regarding those to voted YEA: “Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.”

    1. John Harvie Avatar
      John Harvie

      OK. Please translate for those of us who took Latin 76 years ago.

      1. kls59 Avatar
        kls59

        Kill them all, God will know his own…roughly….

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caedite_eos._Novit_enim_Dominus_qui_sunt_eius.

  10. kls59 Avatar
    kls59

    easiest solution regarding those to voted YEA: “Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.”

    1. John Harvie Avatar
      John Harvie

      OK. Please translate for those of us who took Latin 76 years ago.

      1. kls59 Avatar
        kls59

        Kill them all, God will know his own…roughly….

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caedite_eos._Novit_enim_Dominus_qui_sunt_eius.

  11. Steve Haner Avatar
    Steve Haner

    I was just told that the actual roll call on the resolution dealing with this is NOT posted on LIS. The vote outcome is, but not the link to the individual votes, almost 48 hours later. A clear sign of either incompetence or cowardice. I love the House as an institution no matter who is in charge. They need to retreat and never get one payment…..

    Yep. Confirmed. No list of names….
    https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?202+sum+HR516

    You forced me to look it up! Latin for “Kill ’em all, let God sort them out.” Can’t go that far….

    1. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      How about: Misit eos in carcerem (Send them to jail)?

    2. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
      Dick Hall-Sizemore

      I checked on the listing of the roll call vote yesterday. In prior years, the names of those voting for this routine per diem/compensation resolution, as well as other organizational resolutions, were listed. Then, it changed for the 2018 Session–vote listed, but not the names of the individual Delegates voting for it. Same for the 2019 Session.

      To be politicians, the Democrats sure have a lack of political understanding. It should have been obvious that taking the per diem was (i) wrong and (ii) would subject them to widespread criticism and give the Republicans an easy talking point. Filler-Corn’s hubris, coupled with her lack of experience, is really showing.

      1. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        I agree – the Dems are dumb as doornails on this. The GOP is going to have their lunch and deserve to.

  12. Steve Haner Avatar
    Steve Haner

    I was just told that the actual roll call on the resolution dealing with this is NOT posted on LIS. The vote outcome is, but not the link to the individual votes, almost 48 hours later. A clear sign of either incompetence or cowardice. I love the House as an institution no matter who is in charge. They need to retreat and never get one payment…..

    Yep. Confirmed. No list of names….
    https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?202+sum+HR516

    You forced me to look it up! Latin for “Kill ’em all, let God sort them out.” Can’t go that far….

    1. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      How about: Misit eos in carcerem (Send them to jail)?

    2. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
      Dick Hall-Sizemore

      I checked on the listing of the roll call vote yesterday. In prior years, the names of those voting for this routine per diem/compensation resolution, as well as other organizational resolutions, were listed. Then, it changed for the 2018 Session–vote listed, but not the names of the individual Delegates voting for it. Same for the 2019 Session.

      To be politicians, the Democrats sure have a lack of political understanding. It should have been obvious that taking the per diem was (i) wrong and (ii) would subject them to widespread criticism and give the Republicans an easy talking point. Filler-Corn’s hubris, coupled with her lack of experience, is really showing.

      1. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        I agree – the Dems are dumb as doornails on this. The GOP is going to have their lunch and deserve to.

  13. djrippert Avatar
    djrippert

    Virginia is the most corrupt state in America. It has gotten so bad that our elected officials now blatantly steal money they do not deserve. Every delegate gets an office allowance. Beyond that, they get a per diem for the same reasons that other people get per diems – to cover out of pocket expenses associated with travel and out of town food and lodging. The federal government has very strict rules on per diems that are generally followed as the policy of private corporations. For example, if you get an out of town per diem and you attend a business dinner where your food is provided then your per diem is reduced by the proportion meant for out of town dinners. I wonder how many members of our General Assembly reduce the per diems they take when somebody else provides dinner. Any? Even one?

    Now the roll call votes aren’t published.

    And Eileen filler-Corn and Levar Stoney have no documentation of their statue removal gift contracts.

    Like I said – most corrupt state in America.

  14. djrippert Avatar
    djrippert

    Virginia is the most corrupt state in America. It has gotten so bad that our elected officials now blatantly steal money they do not deserve. Every delegate gets an office allowance. Beyond that, they get a per diem for the same reasons that other people get per diems – to cover out of pocket expenses associated with travel and out of town food and lodging. The federal government has very strict rules on per diems that are generally followed as the policy of private corporations. For example, if you get an out of town per diem and you attend a business dinner where your food is provided then your per diem is reduced by the proportion meant for out of town dinners. I wonder how many members of our General Assembly reduce the per diems they take when somebody else provides dinner. Any? Even one?

    Now the roll call votes aren’t published.

    And Eileen filler-Corn and Levar Stoney have no documentation of their statue removal gift contracts.

    Like I said – most corrupt state in America.

  15. Matt Hurt Avatar
    Matt Hurt

    Man, I can’t stand the spectacle that is our politics. All of the grandstanding, virtue signaling (and this time it’s the GOP folks), and general lack of understanding that we all have to live together, and the other party will eventually win drives me crazy. What makes it worse is that we are all such useful idiots, dutifully filling the war chest of our favored party which propagates this madness. Without all of this drama, how could they raise funding for their campaigns?

    Another thing that I can’t understand is the level of tribalism in our political culture that causes otherwise sensible folks to engage in whataboutism when it comes to their party. “Well, yeah, they did that, but the other guy did first!” I think part of our problem is that the Democrats don’t do a good job at policing other Democrats, and the same is true of the GOP. If the Republicans would call crap on the offending Republicans, and the Democrats would follow suit, we would all be so much better off.

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      yep. Not like the GOP doesn’t do stuff like this when they’re in charge.

      this is partisan “counting – coup”

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_coup

  16. Matt Hurt Avatar
    Matt Hurt

    Man, I can’t stand the spectacle that is our politics. All of the grandstanding, virtue signaling (and this time it’s the GOP folks), and general lack of understanding that we all have to live together, and the other party will eventually win drives me crazy. What makes it worse is that we are all such useful idiots, dutifully filling the war chest of our favored party which propagates this madness. Without all of this drama, how could they raise funding for their campaigns?

    Another thing that I can’t understand is the level of tribalism in our political culture that causes otherwise sensible folks to engage in whataboutism when it comes to their party. “Well, yeah, they did that, but the other guy did first!” I think part of our problem is that the Democrats don’t do a good job at policing other Democrats, and the same is true of the GOP. If the Republicans would call crap on the offending Republicans, and the Democrats would follow suit, we would all be so much better off.

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      yep. Not like the GOP doesn’t do stuff like this when they’re in charge.

      this is partisan “counting – coup”

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_coup

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