It's common practice for legislators from across the state to take up lodging in Annapolis during the regular session. Goff said Anne Arundel County legislators' expense records were not immediately available yesterday.
"You can be in a committee hearing until 2 or 3 in the morning," Goff said. The feeling is that "it's better to have a place to stay."
He sent an e-mail yesterday morning to the county's 20 lawmakers and later obtained by The Sun notifying them that Reiber, "on behalf of Eric Robey," had requested the expenses from each of them.
Within 90 minutes, Alan R. Friedman, the county's governmental relations director, sent an e-mail to the lawmakers that said the request "was NOT authorized by the County Executive and may be disregarded." By noon, legislators were notfied by the Legislative Services that Reiber had rescinded the request.
"It was a misunderstanding and I feel bad that it reflects badly on the administration," said Reiber, who has worked for the county since Leopold took office in December 2006 and previously for him as a legislative aide in the House of Delegates.
Leopold, who served 20 years in the legislature, said he was "surprised and deeply concerned" about the nature of the request. He said his administration is not concerned in the least with legislators' travel records, and he hoped the situation would not jeopardize legislators' support for several pieces of legislation at the State House.
He said he had taken "appropriate action" against Reiber, sent e-mails to legislators and put in calls to delegation leaders to reiterate that neither he nor Robey was involved in her recent action.
Robey, an elected member of the county's Republican Central Committee, said he first learned of his mistaken involvement yesterday. "I am disappointed that my name was used and this administration's reputation was put on the line."
Other delegates, particularly Democrats, were unconvinced yesterday that Leopold wasn't involved.
"I don't think that John Leopold has anything better to do with his time," said Del. Barbara A. Frush, a Beltsville Democrat, whose district includes western Anne Arundel County.
Del. Pamela G. Beidle, a Linthicum Democrat, questioned whether Reiber was doing this for political purposes and said she has contacted the state attorney general's office.
Love, the county's House delegation chairwoman, called it "a very unfortunate situation. "I feel badly because there is a lot of anger right now, which we didn't need. ... I hope things heal over time."
phill.mcgowan@baltsun.com
