California tea party activists are calling for the elimination of financial perks state lawmakers get, as the state struggles with an economic crisis,
KGO-TV in Sacramento reported Tuesday.
Days after a state commission took away the tax-payer funded cars lawmakers were using, activists are targeting the tax-free per diem given to legislators for living expenses while serving in Sacramento. Each legislator is paid $142 a day, which adds up to about $30,000 a year just for showing up at the state Capitol.
"This is our tax money that these people are taking and gallivanting around with, and I don't appreciate it," said tea party activist Angelo Andriani.
The California Citizen Compensation Commission is looking into whether that stipend should be taxed and if lawmakers should even get the money when they miss session due to illness or out-of-town business.
"Everything from a compensation point of view, we feel, has swung too far to the left, and we're just trying to bring it back to center," said Charles Murray, a member of the commission.