Left In Lowell

It has been a few years since I had written about Bob Katzen’s Beacon Hill Roll Call but today at work I saw a copy of the Sun on the cafeteria table and it was opened to page 4, where Mr. Katzen’s column appeared.

As I had written back in 2007 “The report “provides an unbiased summary of bills and amendments, arguments from floor debate on both sides of the issue and each legislator’s vote or lack of vote on the matter.” Today’s column discussed the per diem state representatives received in 2009.

I knew that representatives receive a per diem for mileage, food and lodging expenses (nice deal if you can get it) and that the amount is based on how far you have to travel but I did not know that not all Representative turn in their invoices to be reimbursed.

And as far as our three local reps, Rep. Tom Golden is one of the representatives who did not apply for the money. There is no time limit so he may at a later date but I would think if he did not do it by now, he won’t.

Rep. Kevin Murphy received per diem for 67 days, totaling $1,742 for 67 days and Rep. David Nangle received per diem for 159 days, totaling $4,134.

I can see giving some kind of traveling expense for those reps who live on Nantucket or in the Berkshires but why do we need to offer reimbursement to all of them.