RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Senate has passed a budget proposal that includes $175,000 more over the next two years to cover a bigger per diem for senators.
Both the House and Senate passed their respective versions of their $100 billion biennial budgets Thursday.
The Senate's version includes increasing the daily reimbursements for senators for attending official meetings when the General Assembly is not in session from $200 to $300.
Supporters said the increase was reasonable because it would help offset the cost of being a citizen legislator.
Freshman GOP Sen. David Suetterlein said such lawmakers should not be voting a de facto raise for themselves.
