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By GEORGE WILBUR
RICHMOND—Legislating in Virginia is no bargain-basement operation. Convening the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond recently for a special two-week transportation session cost the taxpayers upwards of $250,000.
This is mere pocket change, of course, when compared to the roughly $500 million-a-year in new taxes and fees endorsed by the assembly to fund Gov. Gerald Balile’s ambitious road-building and maintenance program.
A special session does not by itself fatten the purses of the 100 delegates and 40 senators, whose $11,000 annual salary is fixed by law regardless of the number of times they trek to the State Capitol. They do, however, get travel and living expenses.
The legislators’ travel costs for the session totaled around $12,000. If that sounds a bit steep, consider the fact that you could probably cruise the Caribbean for what it takes to transport a few lawmakers from the hills and hollows of Southwest Virginia the 400 plus-or-minus miles to Richmond.
To keep a roof over the legislators’ heads and food on their plates cost some $135,000. It’s hardly arguable, however, that a $77-a-day per diem doesn’t reserve a suit at the Ritz or provide gourmet dining.
Another major cost was some $40,000 for salaries, travel and perdiem expenses for legislative aides.
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