Oregon’s special session is on hold, but $178 daily payments to lawmakers still flow

Oregon’s special session is on hold, but $178 daily payments to lawmakers still flow

Oregon senators have returned home following a surprise delay in the ongoing special session. But for taxpayers, the meter is still running. State law dictates that members of the House and Senate must be paid a $178 per diem when in session — a daily rate they receive even if legislators are not doing any legislating. When Senate leaders announced Tuesday they were taking a two-week hiatus to allow Sen. Chris Gorsek to recuperate from health is…