Obvious cheating of the system

Certain local legislators are sure milkin' it...

Members of the Legislature are entitled to $44 a day in expenses if they live in Dane County and $88 a day if they live elsewhere. Assembly members can claim up to 153 days of expenses for work in Madison. Senate members have no cap.

Expenses are on top of lawmakers' annual salary, which was about $47,000 last year.

Two state representatives tied for the most expense days claimed.

Former state Rep. Terry Musser, R-Black River Falls, and Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, each claimed the maximum 153 days for $13,464 last year. Musser did not run for re-election. Schneider is the longest serving member of the state Assembly in Wisconsin history, first elected in 1970.

Three other Assembly members claimed the maximum 153 days, but received less money ($6,732) because they live in Dane County. They were state Reps. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Verona, and David Travis, D-Waunakee, who did not seek re-election.

Then-Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson claimed the most expenses in 2007 and received $16,544.

Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Schofield, who took over the leadership post from Robson, collected the most last year of any Senate member. He got $12,760 for 145 days.

What are they even doing?!