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Bill Would Pay For Lawmakers' Hotel Rooms

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A proposed bill in legislature would force taxpayers to foot the bill for hotel rooms used by lawmakers.

The bill is being pushed by House Majority leader Glen Casada, who lives in Franklin, but says he often ends up spending at least one night a week in a hotel room here in Nashville.

Because of that, he's introduced a bill that would provide hotel reimbursement for lawmakers who live close to the city.

At least once a week the Williamson County Republican says he stays in Nashville because he's conducting state business until 9 p.m. and then has meeting the next morning at 7 a.m.

So he wants lawmakers who live within a 50 mile radius of Nashville to get reimbursed if they need a hotel room.

Those requests would be handled through human resources.

Democrats though are questioning why someone who lives so close to the capitol would need a hotel room.

"Apparently some in the super majority have had cold feet and I guess they're now trying to get the public to pay for hotel rooms," said Mike Stewart.

"I work in Nashville and no one is paying for my hotel what would you say? And when I'm not up here I too drive a lot but almost never does my job require me to be here at 9 at night and back at 7 in the morning," said Casada.

There is a cap on this. State employees when booking rooms in Nashville can't spend more than $161 dollars a night.

Last week the bill made it through a first committee hearing.