By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – Illinois lawmawkers collected nearly $260,000 in expenses during a special session devoted to solving the state budget crisis.
Governor Rod Blagojevich ordered the special session. As a result, lawmakers were entitled to $95 per day for their expenses.
Most lawmakers accepted the expense money. A handful returned it to the state, and some say they donated it to charity.
House Speaker Michael Madigan often complained that Blagojevich was wasting money by holding a special session.
But Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch says the governor feels it was worth the money to keep lawmakers in Springfield during budget negotiations. She says it helped produce a better final budget.