Another perk for Maryland lawmakers has been yanked in the midst of some of the worst budgetary times in memory in Annapolis.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller have asked the Maryland Transportation Authority to terminate the free E-ZPass program for the legislative branch. Scores of lawmakers don't have to pay for the electronic toll-collection service.
About 15,000 government employees and officials in the state have the free accounts, including first-responders such as police and firefighters, and buses.
The price of E-ZPass has become a political sore spot since the transportation authority board, over objections from the public, imposed a $1.50-a-month fee on E-ZPass customers and began charging $21 for the transponders starting in July. Legislative leaders have been fielding flak from constituents who complain that they must pay while lawmakers get free access.
"I don't want myself or any member of the General Assembly to have any benefit that the public doesn't have," said Busch, who, like Miller, doesn't have a so-called nonrevenue account.
The accounts are authorized under a trust agreement that also allows for free passage for officials in the executive and judicial branches.
In a letter to lawmakers, the legislative leaders wrote: "This recession requires us to find efficiencies and reduce unnecessary spending wherever possible. ... While this action will not close the budget gap, we are sure you will agree that it is meaningful as we continue to reduce spending in the face of the ongoing global recession."
It is unclear how much the move would save. Lawmakers, who have $500-a-year expense accounts for travel on official business, would still be eligible to seek reimbursement for tolls.
According to Cheryl Sparks, a spokeswoman for the transportation authority, 137 nonrevenue transponders were issued to state senators and delegates in fiscal year 2008, and they recorded 2,300 transactions. If each transaction represented a $5 toll, the most expensive in the state, that would add up to $11,500. In contrast, the state is facing another budget gap of nearly $2 billion next year.
