Guest Blog: Let’s Discuss Legislators Who “Double-Dip”

What follows is a guest blog by reader Mark Bye.

Recently, Wausau Daily Herald and Gannett published another in its series of articles tailored to fuel the “us vs. them” fire as it relates to public employees. This particular article dealt with a practice pejoratively referred to as “double-dipping” by public employees, and in specific, school administrators. At the time, I commented online that it would be nice to see a bit more effort taken in the area of exposing corporate America for its bankrupting and undermining the middle-class working family and a little less playing into the hands of Scott Walker’s “divide and conquer” playbook.

My comments were met with the usual number of uninformed responses, but Peter Wasson, local news editor of the Herald commented, “…we are a local newspaper, and we focus on local issues.” He continued, “…public employees are paid by all of us – we are the shareholders. It’s our responsibility as a news organization to give readers information with which to make decisions and judge how their taxes are being spent.”

I responded that in his quest to “give readers information with which to make decisions” there is rarely any discussion of the responsibilities these individuals shoulder, the sacrifices they’ve made in obtaining educations that qualify them for their positions, of job hazards experienced by public employees, or what they do not receive in terms of perks. Finally, I reminded Mr. Wasson that public employees are taxpayers, too.

However, now that The Herald has established itself as champion of the taxpayer, guardian of the state’s coffers and stewardship of a burdensome responsibility to give readers information with which to make decisions and judge how their taxes are being spent, I’m anticipating that we can also expect that it will publish an extensive series on legislators who “double dip”. Let’s discuss.

Representatives elected or re-elected in the fall of 2012 receive an annual salary of approximately $49,943.

In addition to their salaries, Representatives outside Dane County may receive a per diem of up to $88 each in living expenses while they are in Madison on state business. Members of the Dane County delegation are allowed a per diem up to $44 each in expenses.

Over two years, each representative is allotted $12,000 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.

The per diem is not only tax deductible, but our lawmakers are also allowed to take reimbursements from their campaign funds for meals, hotels and meetings on days they accept their daily expense allowances paid for by taxpayers.

State lawmakers claimed nearly $775,000 in per diem expenses in 2012, with Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald leading all 132 state lawmakers in claims for daily expense reimbursements in the amount of $14,608. The second highest was former Republican Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, who received $13,112.

The bigger point is that there are issues begging for inquiry that are far more urgent than a story about a retired public employee returning to the work force because he or she has a unique set of qualifications for that new job. Is it too much to hope for that media outlets would allocate more time reporting on things that are destroying the fabric of our democracy, the middle-class worker, and his or her family, while a little less effort is spent chasing the new sparkly object in its peripheral vision? Too many compatriots have fought and died to protect the job that you are supposed to be doing. Do not let them, or us, down when we need you most.

Not alone in my feelings, there are individuals with similar views who are reluctant to voice opinions because it just isn’t worth the hassle to joust with sharp shooting uninformed and condescending remarks by trolls who hide behind a screen name. Although they remain silent, they are large in number and are cognizant of which media outlets are beholding to the corporate and political status quo.