State legislators are wrapping up a special session today and it’s come at cost. Roughly the each day of special session cost the state $28,000. That includes a $111 a day stipend for all 176 legislators and a mileage reimbursement for those who request it. But the payout to lawmakers hasn’t changed for a number of years and this year is no different. Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed a freeze on per diems to lawmakers.



Many lawmakers choose not to take the extra money and those that have are often still waiting for a check. The per diem payouts are sitting in the same backlog as billions in other state payments.