Bartlett living with girlfriend at taxpayer expense
Republican Del. Joseph Bartlett has used taxpayers' money to pay rent to his girlfriend in Annapolis during the past three legislative sessions, according to accounts in the Gazette and the Frederick-News Post.
Payments totaled roughly $30,000, according to the news accounts. Members of the General Assembly can qualify for $120 a day per diems during the 90-day legislative sessions.
Bartlett, the son of Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, has said he was not dating Katharine Hopkins when he began renting from her in 2008, according to the accounts. When a romantic relationship began, he says, he cleared the housing arrangement with a legislative ethics attorney. Rules bar lawmakers from having contracts with family members or business partners -- but do not cover romantic relationships.
Bartlett told the Gazette's Katherine Heerbrandt that "it is possible I did not think all the way through this." And he told Meg Tully of the Frederick-News Post that if he is re-elected he does not plan to continue having the state pay his girlfriend.
Bartlett is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He has represented Frederick County since 1999.
Comments
how bad is the state when we pay for law makers to have sex and live with their girl friends? what a BIG JOKE THIS SO CALLED REPRENATIVE IS USING TAX PAYER MONEY FOR SEX..DOES THIS MAKE HER A PROSITUTE?IS THIS REALLY FAIR? HE BROKE THE LAWS OF TRUST AND HORNOR.....
Posted by: Don Beecher | June 17, 2010 3:08 PM
They are just trying to find anything to scandal a Republican. If I bought up all of the crooked things that Democratic members did in this state and still doing then the books could not hold them. Also the ethics and the election board is failing to investigate. This is call painting all in this political group with the same brush.
Posted by: William | June 17, 2010 3:11 PM
Another reason to RE_ELECT NO INCUMBENTS!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 17, 2010 3:24 PM
Seems like they are stretching on this one. I applaud the effort to find poorly-spent tax payer money, but there is so much worse going on to crucify this guy. Let's get some perspective please.
Posted by: Ken | June 17, 2010 4:06 PM
Like my mama used to say "stupid is what stupid does." Rule of thumb - if you have to ask the ethics board DON"T do it!
Posted by: george | June 17, 2010 4:57 PM
Ken, you must be some sort of dope --- I mean doesn't this piss you off even a tad ---- you like paying for this guy's fun house. I don't ....I live in Virginia so the bum is using my money -- is he your US representative or a state only guy --- don't have time to look it up -- either way -- he is just a louse.... and you think this is just fine... hard to believe
Posted by: mlv | June 17, 2010 5:09 PM
I'm confused--why would he ever be allowed to use taxpayer money to pay his rent, no matter his landlord?
Posted by: The Teeto | June 18, 2010 12:59 AM
As much as GOPers complain about Democrats in the state excusing people like Dixon for ethical violations - I won't hold my breath waiting for this part of Maryland to replace a Bartlett - look at Roscoe Bartlett and his lousy record - he will get reelected so long as he has the (R) in place.
Perhaps the ethics board needs a makeover - it seems unethical to me and I am not a professional like them.
Posted by: John | June 18, 2010 6:40 AM
i paid taxes so this piece of @#%! can "qualify," for a 120 bucks a DAY! to live with his girlfriend. I joined THE TEA PARTY. Any other suckers or chumps game?
Posted by: Insanity | June 19, 2010 5:20 AM
The Bartletts are the richest of all elected MD leaders. The first to scream about high taxes and the first to take advantage of unethical loopholes! This is truly disgusting!
Posted by: Steinbeck2 | June 19, 2010 9:19 AM