TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers automatically are getting an 8.5 percent raise in their per diem allowance.

The Wichita Eagle reports the raise is because of a state law that increased lawmakers’ daily “subsistence payments” by more than 28 percent through the past seven years. The Legislature set it up in 2008 so members’ per diem rises with a federal allowance.

The per diem payments are the set amount lawmakers get to pay their living expenses each day they work in Topeka.

As of October 1st, the per diem amount is $140 a day, up from $129. The allowance payments are in addition to the state lawmakers’ base salary of $88.66 a day when they attend session and committee meetings.