House Majority Leader Matt Moonen (D-Portland) has introduced a bill that would amend the laws governing how Maine’s legislators are paid.
During a public hearing held Monday morning, Rep. Moonen characterized his proposals as being “relatively simple” changes to the Legislature’s reimbursement structure. The State and Local Government Committee is considering the proposal.
His bill would repeal the provisions specifying maximum dollar amount that lawmakers may be reimbursed for expenses such as meals and travel.
Instead, reimbursement rates would be set by the Legislative Council with the requirement that at least six members vote in favor of a given amount, as is the standard for any action taken by the Council.
This rate may not exceed the regular federal per diem rate for similar expenses.
It is also clarified in the bill that mileage for days when the Legislature is not in session — but an elected official must come to Augusta for a committee meeting or some other legislative business — daily mileage is calculated from the lawmaker’s “abode” as determined by the “most reasonable direct route.”
Committee member Rep. Randall Adam Greenwood (R-Wales) asked for additional information to be provided for the work session concerning the meaning of “abode” in the context of reimbursement rates. Information regarding the definition of “primary residence” was also requested.
In the last legislature, questions about former state Senate president Troy Jackson’s mileage reimbursement were raised because he had a home in Augusta despite representing faraway Aroostook County. This likely prompted Rep. Greenwood’s question.
If approved, this proposal would also make it such that someone who fills a vacated seat in the Legislature is entitled to compensation beginning on the date that he or she is seated.
During Monday’s public hearing on LD 1968, Moonen explained that hotel reimbursement rates were recently raised through a bipartisan agreement but argued that legislators shouldn’t “have to wait fifteen to twenty years” in order to do so again in the future.
Moonen also noted that elected officials shouldn’t have to be “losing money” as a result of showing up to do their job in Augusta.
A work session for LD 1968 has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 at 1pm.
