View From The Middle
A. G. Cuomo Starting To Make Waves In The Pork Barrel
By Charles Rogers

Wouldn't you know it? Just when I was getting set to research details of the outlandish amount of "pork" our legislators are spending on foolish projects this year, I happened on a column I did exactly a year ago - the topic of which was the outlandish amount of "pork" our legislators were spending on foolish projects.

Fast-forward to 2007: Same facilities; same projects; most of the same names, but a little more scrutiny this year, thanks to new Attorney General (A.G.) Andrew Cuomo (yeah, THAT Cuomo). He took over the desk of now-Governor Eliot Spitzer and is not only finding it hard to fit into those shoes, but says he's going to do even better as the state's top lawyer. Remember, Spitzer was a tough cookie to start with and Cuomo says he's going to end some of the pork gravy that's dribbling off the desks of state legislators.

As a backgrounder on just what we're talking about, pork barrel is defined as "an appropriation or favor granted by governments for political reasons, rather than because of public necessity." Another definition would be "a government bill, appropriation or project undertaken with the intention of placing legislators in the favor of their constituents."

Until this year, nobody - generally nobody - really kept an eye on the money that state legislators were handing out to various constituents and entities. Remember Alan Hevesi? He was the comptroller until a few months ago when he was forced to resign (after being reelected in a landslide vote in November).

It was easy to see that Spitzer had his hands full, eventually handling - very deftly - Hevesi's case. No, it wasn't a matter of mishandling "pork barrel" money; Hevesi had his car and driver ferry his ailing wife around town, doing some shopping with and for her and generally tending to her needs - at taxpayers' expense. A.G. Spitzer said this was wrong, and, to make a long story short, Hevesi had to step down, pay a fine and will never be allowed to take public office in the state again. Even as we speak (read?), the man or woman who would take Hevesi's place is already under extreme scrutiny.

Until this year, nobody really kept an eye on the money that state legislators were handing out to various constituents and entities.

Back to present politics and Andrew Cuomo, though: It all seems to open the curtains once again as to how - most of the time - the greed and the push for votes and for the favor of constituents becomes the most important factor in some political careers. For instance, two or three weeks ago, Assembly Republican Leader James Tedisco released a study that found at least 50 "slush funds" for pork items were essentially unaccounted for. These funds are given out to legislators - just like that pork barrel money - so the legislator can see that some relatively minor project in his (her) district can be taken care of. In essence, if Farmer Jones from Saratoga, New York needs a new fence around his farm, and hasn't the money to take care of it himself, the lawmaker sees to it that the fence is built via a loan from his slush fund. Farmer Jones is happy; Saratoga is happy; the legislator is happy because he's got Farmer Jones' vote; the State Income Tax people are happy because they'll be making money all over the place and, oh, yeah, we who live Downstate in the big city are left scratching our heads wondering where all the money went!

Assemblyman Tedisco's study said he has found these undisclosed discretionary slush funds dating back to the 2000-2001 state budget listed as lump sum allocations without specific projects or legislators identified.

"We're talking about billions of dollars of pork that were not itemized in any of the last six budgets and were doled out in a manner not subject to full public scrutiny," he said. "We need greater accountability and fairness," he added. "Currently there is none."

You said it, fella! Tedisco said the total slush fund allocation - at last count - total nearly $3.4 billion, "far surpassing the $200 million member-item fund."

Now, we know that some of this money does indeed go for good causes. A drug-fighting coalition in the South Bronx or East New York can really use money offered from a slush fund, just as Farmer Jones really needs that fence fixed. When we vote for the state assemblyperson or senator we can hope and pray that he or she will be honest and have our well being in mind. There are indeed some great legislators; there are indeed some not so great.

Back to Cuomo: It's time for Superman to arrive and do some serious rescuing. My God, when you think of the relative waste or fraud or corruption - or all three, and more - it's easy to see a Superman is necessary. The new A.G. has already directed state lawyers to examine 6,000 grants awarded by lawmakers to community groups. This is a wonderful start. Let's hope Cuomo's exuberance and enthusiasm won't wane. It's early yet.

We'll see...