Overview
- The House Administration Committee, which met Friday mostly behind closed doors, voted 6-5 along party lines to bill 53 Democrats a combined $421,890.
- Most face $8,354 each — $6,000 for 12 missed days plus $2,354 in state police costs — a sum that tops the chamber’s $7,200 annual salary.
- Democrats said the process lacked due process and transparency, citing a late 300-page packet of DPS and sergeant-at-arms records they said contained errors and did not tie expenses to specific members.
- Some penalties were reduced after excused-absence claims, including a cut for Rep. Salman Bhojani due to family medical travel and a full strike for Rep. Claudia Ordaz for IVF treatment.
- House rules bar using campaign funds and allow a 30% office budget cut for nonpayment, and some Republicans said they will seek even tougher penalties in the next session.