Reply #7: Employees who work in two different locations are allowed travel costs

[Divernan]

between said locations. Either they are reimbursed by their employers, or they can declare uncompensated costs as business expenses on their federal tax returns. Obviously, legislators live varying distances from their state capitols, particularly in states like California, Texas & Alaska. Sacramento is several hundred miles from the southern part of the state. Legislators also drive to other parts of their states for hearings on bills before their respective committees. I know about this because for 10 years I had a job requiring me to drive about 35,000 miles a year on business.

With the cost of gas plus depreciation on their autos, $300 a month may be fair for some whose district offices are near Sacramento, but not for legislators living in central and southern California. I think the state should have eliminated the leased autos, and varied the monthly transportation allowance depending upon how far away the legislators' districts are from Sacramento.