Woodard, Garofalo to Forgo Per Diem Compensation During Special Session

Northfield's state representatives, Kelby Woodard and Pat Garofalo, both Republicans, announced Friday that they will decline to receive compensation they are eligible to receive during an anticipated special session.

A special session is expected as Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republican-led Legislature work to agree on a budget plan.

Woodard, of Belle Plaine, and Garofalo, of Farmington, will forgo the $77 in per diem compensation they are allowed to collect when the Legislature is in session.

“I do not feel it is appropriate to receive per diem compensation as we work to finalize our budget,” Woodard said in a statement. “Minnesota taxpayers are already struggling to make ends meet in these tough economic times and I cannot ask them to pay me overtime during a special session. ”

The governor vetoed the Legislature’s package of finance bills May 24, one day after the 2011 regular session adjourned.

“Not getting a budget agreement with the governor shouldn’t turn into a financial windfall for legislators,” Garofalo said. “We sent the governor a balanced budget with record-high spending and no tax increases, and I’m disappointed that he chose to veto it because it didn’t raise taxes. But the fact is he did and that means there will be a special session.”

A budget solution hinges on finding resolution in these two approaches: The Legislature’s proposal allows for a 6-percent spending growth in the upcoming biennium, while remaining within the $34 billion in projected state revenue. The governor favors spending $1.8 billion beyond that threshold, raising taxes to help pay for it.