Local representative Rick Womack supports bill that limits expense account payment for lodging

Jan 23, 2013 at 05:03 pm by bryan


State Representative Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) in the House of Representatives says that he will support a bill filed by State Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) that ends an expense account payment for lodging for state legislators who live within 50 miles of Tennessee’s State Capitol Building.  Haile said Senate Bill 107 is a big step forward in reforming the per diem system through which members receive reimbursement for expenses.

“I should not be reimbursed for a hotel stay if I sleep in my own bed at night,” said Senator Haile.  “This legislation would end reimbursement for lodging for those who live within a 50-mile commuting distance to the State Capitol Building.”     

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“We are accountable to the taxpayers, and we felt it was time to change the system,” Haile added.  “This fulfills a promise I made to file this legislation as my first bill of the 2013 legislative session.”

The state law that provides for the reimbursement of legislator expenses is not a permissive statute, meaning reimbursement of the expense account is not optional.  If a member chooses to reimburse the state for their expense account payment, they must write a check to the state; however, they still are required to pay taxes on the full amount to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  The IRS considers the per diem payment for those living within 50 miles of the State Capitol as income, meaning affected lawmakers must pay federal taxes on it in accordance with their guidelines.

Who is supporting it?

Other Senate sponsors of the bill include Senators Steven Dickerson (R-Nashville), Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and Mark Green (R-Clarksville).  The bill will be sponsored by Representative Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) in the House of Representatives.

 Rep. Womack HB0080:

HB0080 
by Womick
General Assembly - As introduced, beginning November 4, 2014, limits per diem payments to certain members; revises mileage allowance for certain members.

Pictured: Rick Womick left, Ferrell Haile right

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