Compensations at Capitol drop
Legislative expenses down $1M
By GEOFF PENDER

JACKSON -

Taxpayers spent $17.1 million over the last year to house, feed and pay lawmakers, less than the $18.1 million tab picked up the year before, according to a preliminary state auditor's report.

The reduction in overall legislative expenses came in spite of pay and reimbursement to lawmakers for four special sessions from the period of mid-May 2004 through April.

Lawmakers made cuts in support staff and other expenses. Special sessions usually cost about $35,000 a day -- $50,000 on days when legislators travel.

Mississippi's rank-and-file, part-time legislators receive a base salary of $10,000 a year for their three-month regular sessions, with the House speaker, speaker pro tem, Senate lieutenant governor (who presides over that chamber) and president pro tem earning more.

Lawmakers also receive a monthly stipend of $1,500 for periods when they're out of session. When they travel to Jackson, they are reimbursed 40-cents-a-mile for travel and receive $91 a day for meals and lodging.

Busy lawmakers -- committee chairs, those serving on committees that meet often and the House and Senate leadership -- travel more often to Jackson and take other government-related trips in the off-season and receive more money.

In the most recent report, House Speaker Pro Tem J.P. Compretta, a Democratic representative from Bay St. Louis, received $94,500 -- the most compensation of any lawmaker. For much of last year, he had to fill in as speaker for Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, who was ill. McCoy, for the same period, received $94,400.

Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck received $84,000, and Senate President Pro Tem Travis Little, R-Corinth, received $63,900.

Lawmakers sometimes receive guff from constituents and the media over their pay and special session costs. Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, said this is unwarranted. Bryan, a lawyer, said lawmakers spend so much time with their public service that their civilian jobs and earnings can suffer.

"Add up all the legislative costs, probably $20 million, and compare that to the entire budget, about $12 billion, counting federal funds and everything that we deal with in appropriations," Bryan said.

"I only wish all those other things we deal with, that $12 billion, would get proportional coverage, a proportional amount of ink. The impression is always given that legislators make big money in the Legislature. I assure you that's not the case.

"I'd say probably 80 percent lose money in the deal. That's OK, it's public service, and you're not supposed to make a lot of money."

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Reps. / Salaries / Mileage & expense / Total
Akins / 24,100 / $14,642.90 / $38,741.90
Aldridge / 24,100 / 13,898.40 / 37,998.40
Arinder / 24,100 / 12,061.74 / 36,161.74
Bailey / 24,100 / 15,324.14 / 39,424.14
L. Baker / 24,100 / 15,995.41 / 40,095.41

Totals for HR: 4,894,212

Totals for Senate: 2,223,998