Letter to the Editor
Below is a letter to the editor I recently submitted to the Howard County Times and Columbia Flier.
According to a recent report by the General Assembly Compensation Commission 60% of our state legislators accept free lodging in Annapolis during the 90 day session costing the taxpayers of Maryland and extra $11,340 per legislator. On top of that 86% of our legislators claim their full $42 per day meal per diem. This is at least an extra $13,000 per legislator that the tax payers are required to pay for a part time legislator on top of their $43,500 a year salary. In Columbia we are 40 minutes from Annapolis, many in Howard County commute more than 40 minutes to work each day and are not provided free housing and meals. During these tough economic times this is an expense that can be cut out. While it is a small step, they add up to large savings for a cash strapped state. When I am elected as state delegate from district 12B I pledge to not accept free housing from the state, saving the state $11,340 per year. Plus as a public school teacher I already take a bag lunch to work every day and I do not see a reason why this would change when I am in Annapolis. Eating breakfast and dinner at home and taking a bag lunch saves even more money for the state. It also makes sense to me that you would want to be in the district with your constituents as much as possible serving their needs rather than being in Annapolis being served by their tax dollars. I call on Liz Bobo the current legislator from district 12B to make the same pledge I am making and not accept tax payer funded housing or meals in Annapolis. These are tough economic times and the state is looking for ways to save money, leadership means taking a stand against wasteful spending. It is a 40 minute drive, the same drive many of your constituents make all year long not just during a 90 day session.
John Bailey
Candidate for State Delegate, District 12B
