Sen. Randy Gordon, D-Bellevue, is doing his part to save the state money during the budget crisis by declining per diem payments during the special session.

“I came here to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Gordon. “By waiving reimbursements and relieving staff, we have reduced daily expense from $18,000 to $13,000. Whether Senators and Representatives waive their per diem expense reimbursements or not, people should know that, without exception, all the people’s representatives are eager to wrap up this session and get back to their lives and work, myself included.”

Many Senators have had to juggle personal plans against a legislative session that went into “extra innings” for the first time since 2003. “I think that we are making good progress towards a balanced budget,” he said. “We aren’t thrilled about staying longer and putting our lives on hold. A few days more are still a small price to pay to get it right for the people of Washington.”

Senator Gordon, the only practicing lawyer in the state Senate, is scheduled to start a jury trial on Monday. “You might say,” he laughed, “that I am ready to finish up this weekend if it can humanly be done. ”

Members of the Legislature are provided $90 for every day of session to cover their lodging and meal costs. And those costs are the primary driver behind what it costs to stage a special session.

To date at least 48 members -- 27 in the 98-member House and 21 in the 49-member Senate -- have decided to decline the per diem for the special session.

Originally, it was thought that it would cost $18,264 per day of session. That's now down to $13,944. Sen. Gordon is mentioned in an article about per diem expenses in The Olympian. Click here to read the article.

For interview, contact Sen. Gordon at (360) 786-7641.