Legislators will be paid for their Friday lodging and eating expenses in Richmond even though they went home because the day's session was canceled due to the snowstorm.
The clerks of the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate said the Appropriations Act requires that the legislators be paid for 60 days. That includes weekend days, too, when they normally return home, House Clerk Bruce Jamerson and Senate Clerk Susan Schaar said yesterday.
Both also noted that most of the 140 legislators rent rooms in Richmond on a weekly or monthly basis, so the expense is there whether they occupy the room or not.
Senators who live outside a certain radius from the state Capitol are paid $169 a day in so-called per-diem expenses. Delegates are paid $135 a day. Richmond-area legislators who can go home at night receive a lesser amount, which is taxable.
Despite the heavy snow over the weekend in many parts of the state, most of the lawmakers were able to make it back to Richmond for the noon start of yesterday's session. Six of the 100 delegates were not present for the opening roll call, although some straggled in soon. All 40 senators were in their seats.
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