What allowance, if any, do rank-and-file, Midwestern state legislators receive in order to hire staff?
While many states in the region provide members of the legislature with staff some only during session or on a shared basis very few offer a specific allowance to rank-and-file legislators (those who are not in leadership or do not serve as committee chairs). But in three states, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, legislators receive office allowances from which their staffs are paid. In Illinois, staff members who work for legislators in their capitol offices are paid through the budgets of legislative party caucuses. Lawmakers also are given a district-office allowance ($73,000 for senators and $61,000 for House members), from which they can pay staff as well as cover printing, travel, phone and other expenses. Michigan House members receive approximately $95,000 a year (slightly more for those in the majority party and less for the minority), which covers staff salaries and benefits as well as printing, mailings and other expenses. In the Senate, members in the majority receive an an
