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Monday, July 06, 2015

Lawmakers spend $2M on hotels, food and miles

Each year the members of the General Assembly spend 90 days raking over the state budget, debating $100,000 here, $1 million there.

Meanwhile, on the taxpayers' dime, they are staying in hotels, claiming expenses for mileage and eating meals. This year Maryland's lawmakers spent about $2 million in this way, most of it stemming from hotel stays. That amount is close to last year's.

Some lawmakers pledge not to spend any money in this way; others say the reimbursed expenses help them operate more efficiently. Elected officials can claim $100 a day for lodging, $45 a day for meals and $0.575 per mile.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have them submit actual receipts in lieu of a per-diem payment....review for common sense!

I don't have an issue with reimbursement of costs - our elected officials shouldn't lose money representing us - but they shouldn't make money on incidental expenses.

Anonymous said...

I would rather they are paid by our taxes than by LOBBYISTS.. MONEY corrupts.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the receipts MUST be submitted and audited. I don't claim to know the ins and outs of the GA, but Baltimore county and city, Montgomery, PG and Howard folks can't commute once in a while? You know, like most Marylanders have to do every day?

Concerned retiree said...

Use this amounts as maximum reimbursement with receipts. Also have a minimum 100 mile limit, one way, before any reimbursement. Make them tighten their expenses instead spend spend spend witout responsibility.

Anonymous said...

all airfare must be the cheap seats or they pay. no first class.

Anonymous said...

Tell to us a backpack tent and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwichs.

lmclain said...

The ONLY one of these loser thieves who didn't partake in the orgy of excess and luxury, spending and wasting OUR money with gluttonous glee, was .....wait for it............YOUR GUY.
He is the epitome of integrity and would never attend such an event.
Wait. He was there!??
Think about this the next time they say they need to raise taxes, or fees, or add some surcharges. Or increase tolls. Or increase fines for this and that.
Think of these slimy slugs as similar to children spending their inheritance.
They didn't work for it so why worry about how it's spent? And no one (in this case "we, the people") is asking for any of it back, either.
Keep cheering.
Louder.