WELLS — Sen. Ron Collins, R- Wells, was cleared of wrongdoing Thursday by a Senate ethics panel after being accused earlier this week of double dipping in connection with lodging reimbursements.

The five-member Senate Standing Committee on Conduct and Ethics, comprised of Republican Sens. David Burns, Brian Langley and Roger Katz and Democratic Sens. Anne Haskell of Cumberland and Linda Valentino of Saco voted 4-1 to clear Collins, with Haskell casting the dissenting vote.

“This is a huge relief, to say the least,” said Collins. “I knew all along that I had done nothing wrong, but to have my integrity called into question by my Democrat colleagues was extremely troubling and hurtful. ”

Collins, who is seeking his fourth term representing District 34 in the Nov. 8 election, came under fire Monday by Democratic Sen. John Patrick and Democratic Senate Leader Justin Alfond for using $2,400 in leftover 2014 campaign funds to pre-pay lodging expenses for the legislative session that began in January 2015 – and applying for the per diem reimbursement from the Legislature.

Collins said accepting the $70 per diem ($33 for meals and $38 for lodging) that all Maine legislators are entitled to paid costs not covered by the $2,400 in campaign funds.

“You don’t go to Augusta to get rich, said Collins in a telephone interview Thursday night. “You do take a hit on expenses.”

Collins called the accusation Monday by Alfond and Patrick, “a desperate, last-minute political stunt.”

“They essentially accused me of fraud,” he said, adding the accusations had been very troubling to him, his family and friends.

Collins earlier this week said he consulted the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices prior to using the campaign funds and was told legislators may do so.

“I understand that the Democrats are dissatisfied with being in the minority, but to engage in this type of mud-slinging is beneath this institution and those elected to serve the people of Maine,” Collins said in a statement.

The Senate ethics panel also voted to recommend that the incoming Legislature make changes to prevent lawmakers from receiving taxpayer-funded reimbursements for expenses paid for by a third party, with Burns, the panel chairman, casting the dissenting vote, according to a statement issued by Alfond.

“I’m please the committee recognized today that regardless of whether Sen. Collins’ actions were permissible under some arcane loophole of legislative rules, that the reimbursement system must be strengthened so that it cannot happen again,” said Alfond.

Collins is a member of the senate ethics panel; he recused himself in this case. Sen. President Michael Thibodeau temporarily appointed Republican Sen. Roger Katz.

Senate District 34, which Collins represents, includes Acton, Kennebunk, Lebanon, North Berwick, Wells and part of Berwick.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327.