It has been three years since the couple has cooked for members of the Legislature.

During the just-finished renovation at the Capitol, House and Senate members shared a cafeteria.

Popular opinion is divided on the aspect of the private dining hall for Senate members, not necessarily because of its exclusive status but because of the chefs' $4,600 per month price tag.

Senate members pay $5 to $7 for their meals, a fee that does not cover the chefs' salary, unlike the dining room the Senate used to share with members of the House of Representatives. House members pay $25 per week, plus the cost of their meals.

The Senate dining hall opens Monday, and some taxpayers don't like the thought of picking up the tab.

Readers weigh in

"Every other state employee must pay for their lunch out of their pockets or bring their own from home -- why are these folks exempted?" said Mike Unser.

"It is just one more instance of the state wasting the taxpayers' money on special perks for the elite politicos."

Unser, of Olympia, was among the more than 60 members of The Olympian's Reader Network who responded to a request for feedback on the news that the chefs were returning to the Senate lunchroom.

Not all agreed that Senate dining costs are out of line. There are those like Linda Lamb of Olympia who think dining in a peaceful environment for a low price is something senators deserve.

"I think we need to respect government servants for what they give up in order to serve," Lamb said. "Not all improve their quality of life by serving on our behalf."

Others, such as Deea Niemi-Hull of Olympia, said that senators "are entitled to some consideration."

Tilt toward outrage

But the reaction of the unscientific poll tilted toward outrage, with three negative responses for every two that said the expense was justified.

Stanley F. Meyer of Olympia was in the majority.

"I believe this is an outrage! They consider themselves to be much better than the average working person who thinks twice about spending even seven dollars for a lunch. If I were running the show, they would be sharing a lunch room with that 'inferior House of Representatives' and also sharing a Big Mac instead of French cuisine!" he wrote.

During the renovation, Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, led a failed movement to consolidate the cafeterias permanently. Neither dining room could accommodate all the lawmakers, he said.

Some readers responded to say that the issue is not important enough to be scrutinized.

"I think there are way too many other things that the state is doing that needs to be looked at in a very close way," said James Rutz of Hoquiam. "To think that a chef deserves to be scrutinized is laughable. And a sad distraction from things that really need to be examined."

Though the dining hall's ambiance and menu more closely resemble a cafeteria than a fine restaurant, some see the appropriation as a misuse of taxpayer dollars.

"With the wages these folks get, they should be able to afford their own meals," said Martin Hillman of Tenino.

Senators and representatives make a salary of slightly more than $34,000 per session and approximately $80 per diem.

Reader Network

To join The Olympian's Reader Network and occasionally be asked for comments for stories, go to www. theolympian.com/readnet.