Furlough watch: Sen. Bobby Zirkin
Earlier this year, state senators and delegates were asked by House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller to voluntarily give up to five days pay at the same time 67,000 state employees were asked to do the same.
While a spokeswoman for Busch said legislators are being asked to sign a waiver for the eight to 10 days they are being asked to give up this time around, the details on how many days each legislator gave up in January remains unknown.
Patuxent Publishing Co., publisher of this Web site is asking the 21 delegates and eight senators to voluntarily provide that information. We’ll publish what each legislator says here and let you know when they provide that documentation and keep a running tab of who releases the information and who declines the request.
Sen. Bobby Zirkin, a Democrat who represents the 11th District, said Tuesday that he will release that information.
“Why wouldn’t I release it?” Zirkin said when asked.
“The public knows how many days 70,000 state employees had to give up,” Zirkin added. “Why shouldn’t we say how many days we’re giving up?”
He called back later Tuesday evening to say that the state human resources office had faxed over a copy of the authorization form he signed allowing the state to withhold a portion of his salary.
“I did four days,” said Zirkin, who represents Owings Mills, Pikesville and part of Timonium.
Zirkin went on to say he had no idea why he chose four days instead of five.
That means Zirkin gave up about $480, based on a daily rate provided by the Department of Legislative Services.
Zirkin agreed to provide a copy of the form but said it might take a few days as his wife, Tina, was scheduled to deliver their second child today.
Zirkin followed up before noon today today with a text message:
“Emma Rose Zirkin, 7-pounds 5-ounces. Tina is doing great. The kid looks like she will have a great jump shot!”
(Guess it’s never to early to get those scholarships lined up.)
So, for those who are keeping score at home: One senator, Bobby Zirkin, releasing verification of the four days he gave up without pay earlier this year.
All things considered, we’ll understand if it takes him a couple days to get the document to us.