Cliff Buchan
News Editor

When it came to claiming per diem expenses, state lawmakers who represent the Forest Lake area were on the high and low end of the spectrum.

District 52 Sen. Ray Vandeveer, R-Forest Lake, who sharply criticized Senate plans to hike the per diem during the past session, remained a man of his word, refusing to accept the higher rate of pay for daily expenses.

District 17B Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-Lindstrom, was also modest in his billing, refusing to take the new House rate but opting for the old per diem.

Kalin joined with many House Republicans in voting against the per diem hike and refused to take the increase.

District 52A Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, and District 17 Sen. Rick Olseen, DFL-Harris, were on the other end of the spectrum, claiming the increased per diem payments.

The change

Here’s how the change worked out for the sessions which concluded on time on May 21.

Lawmakers ratified new rates of per diem payments that paid Senate and House members more dollars for daily expenses such as food.

Under the House plan, the daily per diem was increased from $66 to $77.

The change was even greater in the Senate. The daily rate for per diem was bumped from $66 to $96, a jump of $30 a day.

The per diem compensation comes on top of the annual $31,140 salary that legislators are paid.

In addition to salary and per diem, any legislator living more than 50 miles from the Capitol in St. Paul can claim mileage reimbursement. Legislators are also entitled to a list of “other expenses” for which they may be reimbursed.

In all, the new rates resulted in total spending of just over $2 million in the House and $843,147.50 for members of the Senate.

Local results

Here’s the local legislative breakout for per diem expenses and other expenses.

•Vandeveer — $9174 per diem based on 139 session days at a rate of $66 a day, not the new rate of $96. He submitted no requests for other funding with the exception of $1200 for an intern. Vandeveer specifically requested the $66 daily rate for per diem payments.

•Olseen — $13,344 per diem based on 139 session days at a rate of $96 a day, the new rate. Olseen received an additional $5415.95 which includes nearly $2800 in mileage, $315 for lodging and $1500 for an intern.

•Dettmer — $11,024.25 per diem, mileage of $87.78, other expense of $750 for a grand total of $11,862.03.

•Kalin — $7854 per diem, based on the old House rate of $66 a day for six days each week and total days of 119; no mileage, other expense of $705 for a grand total of $8559.

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