3-6-17 government watchdog group critical of state senate per diem hikes

The head of a government watchdog group is criticizing state senators for giving themselves a huge hike in their per diems.  Wisconsin Democracy Campaign director Matth Rothschild says the Senate Organization committee voted 4-1 in favor of a 31 percent increase in per diems.  Rothschild says previously senators could claim up to 88 dollars a day and senators who live in Dane County could claim up to forty four dollars a day.  The increase allows senators to claim up to $115 a day for expenses.  “its outrageous,”  Rothschild told AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program.   “These are the guys who won’t lift minimum wage for people…and they’re giving themselves a 31 percent hike in these ridiculous per diem allowances.”   Rothschild says he’s also concerned that the increase was not voted on by the entire Senate and the increase was approved with no public meeting.