We Paid For It: Legislator's Coffee Service

They say there's no free lunch, but there's free coffee--for legislators at least. We pay for it, and have been doing so for decades.

You might have remembered a couple of years ago, state voters said they were tired of legislators dragging their heels and dragging out their work.

Well, it certainly wasn't for a lack of caffeine

That was nearly 20 years ago - when I first looked at how much we were paying for free coffee at the capitol.

In 1993 we spent an astounding $45,000 on coffee for legislators, their staff and whoever came to visit.

A surprisingly big difference in the other direction today.

This year, we've paid $7,712.39 for free coffee for members of the state House, their staff and guests

But in the Senate, it's another story. Coffee services there were cut in the 2010 budget.

Like you and me, the only way Senators get any java is if they pay for it themselves.

We want to hear from you. If there's something we're paying for... that maybe we shouldn't be... find me on Facebook and let me know.