Friday, March 26, 2010

Smith hogged the tweeding cash

From the NY Post:

Sen. Malcolm Smith is the Prince of Pork.

The Queens Democrat pigged out on $5.7 million in grants last year -- more than any other state legislator and $4.4 million higher than the average state senator, according to a report by a government watchdog.

That disparity makes Smith the poster child for an oft-criticized system that ensures that politically powerful lawmakers get to dole out a lion's share of pork-barrel grants.

The report by the New York Public Interest Research Group found that roughly a third of the state's 212 legislators -- led by Smith -- gobbled up half of member-item funds in 2009-10.

In the Senate -- which Smith had led as majority leader until last summer's coup fiasco -- 43 of the 62 senators got less than the average allotment of $1.2 million.

In the 150-seat Assembly, 114 lawmakers got less than the average $300,000.

"It's indefensible," said NYPIRG Legislative Director Blair Horner.

Noting that Sen. Roy McDonald (R-Saratoga) got $250,000, Horner said, "There are just as many people who live in Senator McDonald's district as there are living in Senator Smith's district. They should get the same amount."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think we need to take a detailed look on exactly how these people give away taxpayer cash.

For example, Bricklayer Onorato gives Italian organizations in Astoria $100,000 - and nothing to Spanish groups - which are the highest ethnic group in his area.

Anonymous said...

Enough of this CREEP - The word CORRUPTION is written all over his face. What can we do to get this fraud booted? Every day there's something new and shady surfacing in regards to him. PEOPLE WAKE UP!! ORGANIZE!! DEMAND POLITICAL JUSTICE AND TRANSPARENCY once and for all!! We've so easily forgotten that these bastards work for us NOT the other way around!!

Anonymous said...

So where is the money going to - details please?