Somewhere, a Maryland lawmaker could be planning a vacation that will be paid for with rewards he or she earned on the state’s dime.
Under its ethics rules, the General Assembly allows legislators who stay at hotels at state expense to take advantage of benefits those hotels offer, as long as the benefits are offered to every guest alike, not specifically to lawmakers.
Those benefits can go well beyond a continental breakfast.
According to legislators and officials of watchdog groups, delegates and senators often take advantage of rewards programs at hotels like the Westin Annapolis, the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront and Hilton hotels like the DoubleTree and the Hampton Inn & Suites.
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This has been going on for years. This isn't new. They use the perks for personal gain while on supposedly government business.
ReplyDeleteIf these government jackels had to pay of their pockets, you can bet they would find someplace safe and more responsibly priced to stay. The sky is the limit on the taxpayer's dime. None of the government departments that oversee travel do anything about it. If the vouchers get questioned, the bosses just lie and tell the auditors it was needed. They cover their butts.
With the amount of money govenment employees get paid, maybe Ireton, Pollitt, Governor, and President should make everyone pay for their own travel expenses and every jurisdiction could save bucks!!!