Aug 27, 2008 10:42 pm US/Pacific
Who Pays Lawmakers' Way To Conventions?
Reporting
Ron Hyde
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Some Democratic lawmakers have defied Governor Schwarzenegger and traveled to their convention, despite the lack of a state budget, and Republican lawmakers may also attend their convention next week.
Who foots the bill for their travel expenses? Are taxpayers on the hook for those costs?
"Taxpayers need not worry," said Kevin Richards from the California Republican Party. "Legislators are paying their own way, not using taxpayer funds."
The story is the same on the other side of the political aisle.
"Democratic legislators pay their own way to our national conventions," said Bob Mulholland from the California Democratic Party.
Lawmakers don't always have to pay the money out of their own pocket.
"It's either paid for out of campaign expenditure funds or personal funds or a combination of both," Richards said.
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