Reply #342: TN - State House Speaker Cuts Travel (including ALEC) and DEMOCRAT ALEC member (Sen Tate D-Memphis) [View All]

NASHVILLE — House Speaker Beth Harwell, who donates her own legislative expense payments to charity, has moved to curtail the expense money other state representatives collect for out-of-state traveling.

In 2010, a review of legislator expense records indicates, at least 16 representatives collected per diem payments for second and subsequent out-of-state trips.

Former House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower, now executive assistant to the state comptroller, made a four-day trip to an SLLF meeting in Boston that ended Oct. 3 and former Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, who is now chief clerk of the state House, traveled to an American Legislative Exchange Council meeting in San Diego.
The ALEC San Diego event was the most popular destination for Tennessee legislative travel last year with 16 attendees from the state — 12 representatives and four senators. Tate (Sen. Reginald Tate, D-Memphis ) was the only Democrat to attend the session, known for developing model legislation with conservative, pro-business themes. Most of billed for six days of per diem at the $185 rate in effect until Oct. 1, or $1,100 each. And most counted it as their one all-expense paid trip and those staying for the full conference had a hotel bill of $1,175 plus varying airline fees.