In what appears to be a first, the Speaker of the Tennessee House is warning lawmakers that money is tight, and they should cut back on their expenses, especially when the legislature is out of session.  As News 2 reports, a letter went out last month from the office of Speaker Kent Williams, urging his colleagues to hold the line on unnecessary meetings, and inefficient scheduling. 
In addition to their part time pay and mileage, legislators get per diem payments of $171 a day for lodging and meals.  These payments often add up to more than $20,000 a year per person. 
In a study released two years ago, The Tennessee Center for Policy Research reports some lawmakers routinely abuse the per diem system.