Update: Fotsch, Quick Weigh In on Per Diem Debate in Roseville

Editor's Note:  A story earlier this week about Rep. Mindy Greiling's handling of legislative per diem during the recent state government shutdown has prompted responses from Greiling's 2010 Republican opponent Mark Fotsch and Charlie Quick, DFL chairman of state Senate District 54.

Fotsch questions whether the per diem was for Greiling to donate to charities; Quick contends Roseville area legislators either rejected their pay or donated it and should be commended for their public service. What follows are statements from Fotsch and Quick, then the original story:

Mark Fotsch: "Rep. Mindy Greiling’s response to the question of being paid during the state’s longest government shutdown is an extreme oversimplification of the issue.

"The fact is that she accepted a paycheck from the taxpayers of the State of Minnesota for work that was not done. Giving away the money to some of her favorite charities is immaterial.

"The question I ask is: Was the money from the taxpayers of the State of Minnesota, from an ethical standpoint, hers to give away in the first place? The taxpayers of Minnesota paid Rep. Mindy Greiling for work that was not done. If the money should have been given to anyone, ethically it should have been returned to the State of Minnesota.

"Taking pay when you did not do the work is inconsistent with the values of Roseville citizens. Doing a good deed by donating money to your favorite charity does not excuse this ethical lapse of judgment."

Charlie Quick: "Because there have been attacks on legislators who received pay during the government shutdown, we think it is important to note that all three of our District 54 legislators: Mindy Greiling, Bev Scalze, and John Marty, either rejected their pay, or donated the money to help protect vulnerable people who were being hurt by the shutdown.
"Representatives Scalze and Greiling, along with Senator Marty, worked hard to get a fair budget during the regular session, and then continued their efforts prior to the July 1st shutdown, and all of them were deeply concerned about the harm that would be caused by the halt of government services.

"Despite their hard work, there was no willingness to compromise from the Republican majority, and Minnesota had the longest government shutdown ever, in any state.

"Our legislators work long hours for low pay, so we are not among those bashing legislators or legislative pay. But we think it is worth mentioning that our local representatives chose not to accept their pay. So, to Rep. Scalze and Greiling, and Senator Marty, thank you for your public service and your compassion for those hurt by the shutdown."

Story first posted earlier this week on Roseville Patch:

A political flyer circulating over the past weekend in Roseville that criticizes DFL Rep. Mindy Greiling over her legislative per diem has been met with a rebuke from the state lawmaker.

The flyer, distributed by Citizens For Fotsch (Greiling's Republican opponent in the 2010 election), charges that Greiling deceived and lied to citizens about taking her per diem during the recent state government shutdown. On June 29, at a town hall meeting she hosted, Greiling "proclaimed she would not take her representative pay while other Minnesotans were laid off," the flyer said.

Instead, Greiling, House District 54A, "did take her representative pay at the full amount,'' the flyer said.

Greiling, the ranking DFLer on the House Education Finance Committee, on Monday issued a statement saying, "I am disappointed to see that my Republican opponent (Mark Fotsch) from last year’s election is campaigning already and in a negative way.

"Let’s set the record straight: at the time of the shutdown I told attendees at a town hall meeting that I was deferring my salary during the shutdown," Greiling said. "After the shutdown, legislators who deferred their salary could then choose to take it, forfeit it to the Legislature’s budget, or donate it,"Greiling continued.

"I chose to donate all of my salary for the period of the shutdown to mental health and food shelf nonprofits," Greiling said. "These critical services have been cut and rely on donations.

"Furthermore, I never take per diems during the interim, regardless of special sessions or shutdown," Greiling said.