Business

Legislature's special session to cost $40K a day

Posted June 18, 2013 6:00 am

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Legislature's special session will cost about $40,000 a day, which includes a $111 daily payment to lawmakers to defray the cost of food and lodging while they work in the state capitol.

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports (http://bit.ly/19flNHI ) the per diem payment is on top of the $67,000 base salary lawmakers earn for their legislative work. Others earn more for leadership roles and mileage.

Still, not all lawmakers are planning to pocket the extra money.

Democratic state Senator Gary Forby of Benton says he donated his special session money to charity last year. He plans to continue the practice this time around.

Some other lawmakers turn down the payments entirely.

The special session on the state's nearly $100 billion pension debt starts Wednesday.

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