BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A proposal to reimburse North Dakota lawmakers for meals beyond their per diem payments could languish in a longer-term study of their overall expense reimbursements.
Republican Rep. Keith Kempenich introduced a bill in committee Thursday that would reimburse state lawmakers from outside Bismarck for meals on days when they’re in session. A legislative estimate indicates it would cost taxpayers about $424,000.
“I had Bismarck legislators questioning, because they’re up here all during the lunchtime, and then there got to be a discussion about our reimbursement in general on like motels and stuff like that,” Kempenich told the committee. “So there is some questions where we’re at in general on reimbursement as far as outside of per diems.”
The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee rejected that proposal, but voted in favor of an amendment Kempenich offered that the would set up a two-year study of lawmakers’ pay and expense reimbursements, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The bill now goes to the House for a vote.
Last month, Kempenich said he had been eating canned “Spaghettios” after new state government ethics laws curtailed lobbyist-financed meals.
Legislators are paid per diems of $518 a month, plus $186 per day during a session or in an interim meeting. They also receive session lodging reimbursements of about $1,800 a month and are paid for mileage expenses.
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