NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - An effort to expand a clampdown on hotel allowances for Tennessee lawmakers has caused a Senate committee to delay a vote on the measure.
The original bill filed by Sen. Ferrell Haile of Gallatin would eliminate a $107-per-night hotel payment for legislators who live within 50 miles of the state Capitol.
The proposal was on the verge of a swift committee vote on Tuesday before fellow Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro proposed requiring lawmakers from outside the Nashville area to submit hotel receipts.
Ketron said the change would alter the current practice of automatically providing each lawmaker with the full daily allowance even if they share motel rooms or sleep in their offices.
A committee vote was delayed until next week to flesh out the proposed changes.
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