Wisconsin lawmakers claim $555K in expenses during pandemic

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin state lawmakers claimed more than $555,000 in daily expense reimbursements in 2020 even though they never convened for a floor session during the last eight months of a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic, records released Tuesday show.

Legislators claimed $555,159 in expenses, known as per diems, according to the records from the Senate and Assembly chief clerk's offices. Lawmakers can claim such payments for daily expenses they accrue for work done in Madison. The payments are in addition to their $53,000 annual salaries. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported the tallies.

The Legislature adjourned its two-year session in March 2020, which is typical in election years. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic tightened its grip, the Legislature came back in April to pass a COVID-19 relief bill. Republicans who control both houses refused to convene again last year, drawing the ire of Democrats who railed that the GOP needed to do more to address the pandemic.

The money lawmakers collected was about 55% less than the $1.25 million they claimed in 2019 and about 30% less than the nearly $800,000 they claimed in 2018, the last year the Legislature adjourned early to allow members to campaign.

Four lawmakers claimed more than $10,000 in per diems, including former Senate Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who is now in Congress; Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley; former Sen. Fred Risser; and Sen. Jon Erpenbach. Risser and Erpenbach are Democrats.

Fittzgerald claimed $19,550, the most of any lawmaker in either house, for 170 days of work in Madison. He was the top per diem recipient in 2019 as well, collecting $20,125 for 175 days. His spokeswoman, Kelli Liegel, didn't immediately respond to a message.

Fitzgerald's counterpart in the Assembly, Speaker Robin Vos,...