Thursday, April 16, 2009

Albany still full of porkers

From Gotham Gazette:

Every year New York's state legislators get to distribute millions of dollars of member items, also disdainfully referred to as "pork," to groups across their districts. A mix of organizations benefit from the grants: Little Leagues, after school programs, food pantries, libraries and even curling clubs get their share of state money -- provided they enjoy the favor of their member of the member of the Assembly or State Senate. But this year some observers thought things might be different. With a huge state budget deficit and talk of fiscal restraint, some thought legislators might dial back the amount of member items they doled out.

Those observers might have been a bit naïve. Member items have been described as the lubricant that keeps Albany running. They allow legislators to curry favor in their districts, and the party leaders, who control how much money each member is able to hand out, use the power to reward, punish and control their members.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those little cute porkers can be blind too - running in the wrong direction! Notice how much S**T comes out of them as well - careful don't slide!

Anonymous said...

Who's the front runner...
Toby Stavisky?

Anonymous said...

Maybe its Joe Addabbo? Oh wait. I forgot that since he has been elected we haven't heard anything about him. At least he fullfiled his promise to open 2 offices. Oh wait...It is scary to say that I and people in my area are beginning to miss old Serfie.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the newspapers running to Blumturd's reelection advertising.

Anonymous said...

The Stavisky's Family portrait!

Anonymous said...

These are obviously not the real deal. The New York Porkers are a lot larger, a lot dirtier, and stink worse.

Anonymous said...

That front runner is far too cute to be Toby.

Please don't insult the pig!