The feud between the Maryland State Senate and Comptroller Peter Franchot heated up again today when Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. asked the State Ethics Commission to investigate Franchot's release of salary information of more than 4,600 state employees earning more than $100,000.

Earlier this month, in response to what Franchot called "rumors" that Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller was targeting two high-paid aides in the tax collector's office, Franchot offered to supply the media with names of other state employees who make more than $150,000. The Baltimore Examiner's Len Lazarick took Franchot up on his offer on Feb. 14, writing in an e-mail to Franchot's spokesman: "The Examiner formally requests such a list of people paid $150,000 or more under the Public Information Act. Actually we'd like to see all state employees who make more than $100,000 if that is possible."

Here's the story that Lazarick subsequently wrote. The Sun ran a similar story last July.

The names and salaries of state employees are considered public record and are routinely provided to the news media when requests are made.

Franchot, a Montgomery County Democrat, complied with Lazarick's request and provided him with 98 pages of computer printouts with 4,678 names and salaries. DeGrange, an Anne Arundel County Democrat, said yesterday he believed that was "an abuse of the prestige of that office," and that Franchot's offer was made "for politicial gain."

"I feel that Mr. Franchot has committed an ethical violation and inappropriately used the power of his office," DeGrange wrote in his letter to the State Ethics Commission. "By using and poublicly releasing the names and salaries of 4,678 employees to justify the salaries of individuals working in the Comptroller's office, the Comptroller has committed not only an ethical breach, but has violated the public trust."

Joseph Shapiro, Franchot's spokesman, said today that DeGrange's letter "is proving that the rumors we heard are true. The Comptroller welcomes any investigation, as his personal ethical standards are much higher than what is required by the state."

In a statement, Miller called the revelation of salary information "troubling" and called on Franchot to apologize.