Capitol Alert: Four legislators waive per diem during budget deadlock

Four California legislators have opted not to accept any $142 per-day subsidies for living expenses, called per diem, that might accrue during the budget impasse that began July 1.

Assembly Republican leader Martin Garrick of Solana Beach waived the per diem, as did Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville; and Senate Democrats Leland Yee of San Francisco and Lou Correa of Santa Ana, records show.

Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, told The Bee last week that he plans to donate to nonprofit groups any per diem he accrues during the budget deadlock.

Legislators are slated to work from their district offices throughout July, a scheduled break from the Capitol, so only legislative leaders and the 10 members of the joint budget conference committee are likely to accrue per diem before Aug. 2.

Six Sacramento-area legislators never accept per diem because they live in close proximity to the Capitol: Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assemblyman Dave Jones, both Sacramento Democrats; Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis; and Assembly members Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills; Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks; and Mariko Yamada, D-Davis.

Under state law, lawmakers can qualify for $142 per diem payments if they work at the Capitol during a budget deadlock, but all their salary and per diem will be withheld from the start of the fiscal year, July 1, until a budget is approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor.

Lawmakers' salaries were reduced from $116,208 to $95,291 last December, and their per diem was slashed from $173 to $142 per day.

Two legislators voluntarily receive a lower salary than they are entitled to: Garrick, when he assumed his leadership position in February, declined the additional $14,293 in leadership pay; and Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, reduced his pay by 20 percent before last year's 18 percent cut for all legislators, so he continues to receive 2 percent less - or $2,300 per year - than his colleagues.