While Faced With A Continuing State Budget Crunch That Likely Will Mean Laying Off More State Employees, Tennessee Legislators Have Received A $14-A-Day Increase In Their Compensation For Expenses. Some Of Them Say They Are Surprised, That They Had No Idea The 8.1 Increase Took Effect When The Federal Government’s New Fiscal Year Started. The Expense Payments Automatically Increased Oct. 1 From $171 To $185. Lawmakers Get The Payments For Food And Lodging Costs While Away From Their Home Districts On Official Business.