This week the Senate's leadership approved updates to their policies that included a change in their approach to the special daily per diem allowed for legislators staying in the Madison area for legislative work.
Instead of the current $88/day flat uniform rate that covers lodging and meals, the State Senate will now allow each Senator to select in advance a specific daily combined per diem rate up to a maximum of $115/day. This means that some Senators will likely adopt the full $115 for both lodging and meals, and others will select an amount anywhere between the previous $88 and the $115. The reasoning for selecting a lesser rate could be for public perception, should the media or challenging candidates in the next election be seeking a story angle.
Even with increasing their ceiling rate for Madison stays, the Senate is still lower than the $138 combined daily lodging and meals per diem in effect with the State Assembly. For clarification, this amount is paid to claiming legislators as a flat amount by the day.
Please also note that the daily Assembly (the same for all) and Senate(individually set) flat per diems are completely separate from the State Lodging Per Diem Rate, which currently remains at $82 for state employees traveling to Dane County for work.
