Beacon Hill Roll Call has obtained the official list from the state treasurer's office of the "per diem" travel, meals and lodging reimbursements collected by state representatives in 2010. The list reveals that representatives collected a total of $387,764. Beacon Hill Roll Call reported a few weeks ago that state senators in 2010 collected $74,782 in per diems. The combined 2010 total collected by representatives and senators is $462,546.

Under state law, per diems are paid by the state to representatives "for each day for travel from his place of residence to the Statehouse and return therefrom, while in the performance of his official duties, upon certification to the state treasurer that he was present at the Statehouse." These reimbursements are given to representatives above and beyond their regular salaries.

The amount of the per diem varies and is based on the city or town in which a representatives resides and its distance from the Statehouse. The Legislature in 2000 approved a law doubling these per diems to the current amounts. The payments range from $10 per day for representatives who reside in the Greater Boston area to $90 per day for some Western Massachusetts lawmakers and $100 per day for those in Nantucket. Representatives who are from areas that are a long distance from the Statehouse often collect the highest total of annual per diems.

Supporters of the per diems argue that the system is fair and note the rising costs of travel, food and lodging.

Some opponents say most other private sector and state workers are not paid for commuting. Others argue that the very idea of paying any per diem is outrageous when thousands of workers are losing their jobs and their homes, the state is in the midst of a recession, funding for important programs has been cut and taxes have been raised.

The 2010 statistics indicate that representatives have received reimbursements ranging from $330 to $8,600 while 38 representatives have so far chosen not to apply for any money. State law does not establish an application deadline.

A total of 38 of the state's representatives did not list any days and did not request any per diems. This should not be construed to mean these representatives were never at the Statehouse in 2010. It simply means they so far have chosen not to list the number of days and not to request their per diems.

Rep. Thomas Calter    $2,288 (88 days)
Rep. James Cantwell    $0     (0 days)
Rep. Geoff Diehl    Was not yet elected
Former Rep. Allen McCarthy    $0     (0 days)
Rep. Daniel Webster    $2,678 (103 days)