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Wisconsin lawmakers in 2020 claimed per diems totaling $555,149, about 70 percent of what they took home in the previous election year, as the COVID-19 pandemic cut into activity at the Capitol, a WisPolitics.com review found.
Overall, lawmakers claimed 5,498 days of per diem in 2020, compared to 8,347 in 2018.
The Assembly had largely wrapped up its work when Gov. Tony Evers’ first stay-at-home order was issued in March. But the Senate canceled its final planned regular floor period with dozens of bills up for a vote after the pandemic took hold.
Senators claimed $193,505 last year for 1,867 days, compared to $224,540 for 2,461 days in 2018. Meanwhile, members of the Assembly claimed $361,644 for 3,631 days, compared to $572,700 for 5,886 days in 2018.
Then-Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, claimed $19,550, by far the most in the chamber. Fitzgerald was elected to Congress in November and vacated his seat in early January.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-West Point, was No. 2 at $12,305 for 107 days, while former Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, claimed $12,000 for 240 days.
Former state Sen. Patty Schachtner, D-Somerset, claimed $1,610 for 14 days, which was both the smallest reimbursement amount and the fewest days claimed in the Senate. Former state Sen. Tom Tiffany, who resigned in May after winning a special election for the 7th Congressional District, claimed $1,725 for 15 days.
In the Assembly, Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, and Rep. Tim Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, each claimed $7,533, tops in the chamber. Rep. Tyler August, R-Lake Geneva, was No. 3 at $7,439.
Former GOP Rep. Rob Hutton, who lost re-election in November, claimed the least at $350 for 14 days. Former Rep. Staush Gruszynski, who lost a Democratic primary in August, claimed $1,134 for 10 days. Assembly Democrats pushed him out of the caucus after a staffer accused him of sexually harassing her at a Madison bar.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, didn’t claim any per diem in 2020.
Senators can claim up to $115 a day in per diems to cover travel and lodging expenses, while members living in Dane County can receive up to $57.50. In the Assembly, where there’s no difference for living in Dane County, members could claim up to $162 for an overnight visit to Madison last year or $81 for a single-day visit.
The payments are on top of legislative salaries.
See the per diem lists:
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The Capitol Report is written by editorial staff at WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics, and is distributed for publication by members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.
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