History of corruption stirs fears about relief aid (Louisiana lawmakers get per diem raise)

Nine months before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, three emergency-preparedness officials from Louisiana were indicted, accused of obstruction and lying in connection with the mishandling of $30.4 million in disaster-relief money. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has tried unsuccessfully to recover the money following an investigation of a program to buy out homeowners in flood-prone areas.

Lawmakers get per diem raise

Members of the Louisiana House and Senate received an automatic increase in their daily pay from $113 to $115, effective Oct. 1.

And they got a little sweeter deal yet as the reimbursement for gas mileage zoomed from 40.5 cents to 48.5 cents.

The per diem and gas mileage payments to state lawmakers are tied by law to the rates paid by the federal government. They go up and down annually with the federal rates.

Per diem is the money lawmakers receive for every day they are engaged in official state business such as legislative sessions, committee meetings and in- and out-of-state conferences.

The daily payment comes on top of base pay of $16,800 for most lawmakers as well as a $1,500 per month expense allowance.

A per diem gesture

A number of Louisiana House members refused the money they were due for attending a legislative session Gov. Kathleen Blanco called to give a speech after Hurricane Katrina.

So far, 47 of the 95 House members who attended Blanco's Sept. 14 address to the Legislature have waived the $113 they would have received for attending the 30-minute session followed by a meal provided by lobbyists. They donated the money to the governor's Katrina relief fund, according to House accounting records.

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