OK Lawmakers Rack Up $1.3M Travel Bill
Oklahoma lawmakers rack up $1.3M travel bill
by Rick Green
Oklahoma Senate and House members racked up more than $1.3 million in travel expenses in the 2015 fiscal year, much of it to cover mileage and lodging.
The average legislator got about $8,700 in expense money, plus a salary of $38,400. The amounts claimed for expenses varied widely, according to an analysis by The Oklahoman of figures provided by the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
Costs incurred by the Legislature have been a point of public concern as the House and Senate did not cut their budgets this year even as many state agencies faced reductions. State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones has even called for an initiative drive to eliminate one legislative chamber, reducing the number of lawmakers to cut down on expenses and redundancy and to increase transparency.
Every legislator is entitled to 57 cents a mile for one round trip a week to and from the Capitol when the Legislature is meeting.