BOSTON -- Tolls, gas, and meals --- the costs of traveling to work every day add up. But it's not a worry at all for state lawmakers who get reimbursed for commuting to work every day.

Team 5 Investigates Janet Wu tracked down lawmakers getting the most free rides to Beacon Hill.

At the top of the list: Rep. Willie Mae Allen, a Democrat from Mattapan.

Wu: "No other legislator put in for more days than you did."

Rep. Allen: "I'm completely unaware of that. So I'm going to have to check on that. I really have to check those dates."

But less than four months ago, Allen signed a legal document under pains and penalties of perjury, claiming she traveled to the State House 251 days, collecting more than $2,510 extra dollars to travel just 6 1/2 miles. The daily rate is based on the distance between legislators' homes and Beacon Hill.

Wu: "Many of your constituents don't make as much money as you do. In this time of severe budget cutbacks where people are being laid off, do you feel any guilt whatsoever that you put in for this per diem?"

Rep. Allen: "Well, to tell you the truth, I'm unaware that, uh, that many days have been put in for me."

Wu: "You didn't do it yourself?"

Rep. Allen, pausing: "I'll have to check on that."

Wu: "Did you do it or did a staff person do it?"

Rep. Allen: "I'll have to check on that."

Wu: "You have no recollection, no memory of it?"

Rep. Allen: "No, I don't."

Wu: "We noticed that in order for you to put in for 251 days, basically you took no vacations."

Rep. Allen: "It sounds strange, but you know, it's true. I have not taken my vacation yet."

Second on the list: Rep. John Binienda of Worcester, chairman of the rules committee. He claimed reimbursements for 239 days totaling $8,604 in per diems.

Wu: "You could be saving someone's job if you didn't accept the per diem."

Rep. Binienda: "Right."

Wu: "No guilt?"

Rep. Binienda: "I didn't say guilt."

In just three years, legislators have collected nearly $2 million in per diems and, despite the recession, the number climbs annually.

Some of the legislators -- including Rep. Allen, Rep. Marty Walz, and Rep. Michael Rush -- live within minutes of the State House, but still collect $10 a day.

Rep. Walz lives at 250 Commonwealth Ave. in Back Bay, just 1 1/2 miles from the State House. Wu's leisurely stroll from Walz's home to the State House took 24 minutes.

For this short commute, Walz collected an extra $2,280 last year.

Rep. Walz refused to speak to Wu at the State House.

Other legislators thought the reimbursements are fair.

Wu: "Do you feel any guilt taking money to pay for your gas to come to work every day? Most of your constituents do not get paid for their gas money."

Rep. Brian Wallace, D-South Boston: "If it was against the law, I'd feel, I'd feel terrible about it, but it's not against the law."

Who collects the largest sums last year? Not surprisingly, legislators who live the farthest from Boston.

At the top, Rep. Daniel Bosley, D-Berkshires, received $15,930; Rep. Denis Guyer, D-Berkshires, received $11,234; Rep. Christopher Donelan, D-Orange, received $9,950; and Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox, received $9,270.

Wu: "Don't you feel a little guilty that you're getting paid to go to work? Most people don't get paid to go to work."

Rep. Pignatelli: "No, I really don't."