The Democrat-Gazette did its fine annual job (sub. reqd.) of toting up what legislators really draw from the public in compensation and it puts their lowly $15,600 constitutional pay in perspective to see some of them draw $50,000 to $60,000 a year.

That’s one thing.

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But another is the continuing scandal of legislators who draw huge expense checks to drive (or, in one case, fly a private plane) to legislative conferences. Some are quite open about the fact that they make family vacations out of their roundabout road trips, with multiple nights in hotels and side trips to genealogical and other attractions. The extra charge to taxpayers covers family expenses and fun.

This one is real simple to fix. If legislators weren’t just shameless public teat suckers, they would pass a rule that said their business trips had  the same guidelines that govern all state employee travel. If you drive, you can’t be reimbursed for more than the cost of a coach plane ticket.

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I won’t hold my breath for a burst of legislative ethics.

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