EDITORIAL: Pork disparity is petty politics

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May 8, 2008

Staff Reports The Journal-Register Thu May 08, 2008, 06:46 PM EDT

Pork isn’t the other white meat in New York if you’ve got a Democratic state senator or a Republican assemblyman. In fact, there isn’t much to chew on at all if that’s the case.

The good government group New York Public Interest Research Group released its annual sad commentary on the spending habits of Albany legislators. One of the things pointed out therein is the shocking disparity in the amount of so-called “pork barrel” money — funds set aside by individual legislators for specific groups, charities and projects in their districts — between those in the majority party and those in the minority.

To whit: Republican state senators, whose party holds a thin majority in the chamber, got on average $2.3 million to sprinkle the seeds of political good favor in the 2008 budget.

Democrats in the minority got a fraction of that on average: $296,251.

And lest you think it’s just Republicans, you’re wrong. The same phenomenon exists in the Democrat-held Assembly where majority members get a smaller slice, but with an equal disadvantage for minority members.

So if you’re dumb enough to vote for a Democrat for state senate, you get punished. If you back the right horse, your local YMCA, Lion’s Club and VFW post are more likely to cash in.

Of course, politicians love to tout the money they bring back to their districts — $30,000 for a new roof at the library, compliments of your friendly Albany representative.

How about $100,000 to upgrade that sad park around the corner? No problem, Johnny Legislator says — just take a dip in my personal slush fund Jacuzzi. Just be careful — you’ll feel a little slimy when you get done.

Oh, and here’s a nice picture of a smiling child standing with me at the ribbon cutting that we’d like the local paper to run as a show of good faith.

Sarcastic, yes — and it would be disingenuous for us to suggest that all the money spent happens as a result of nefarious, politically motivated motives. Much of it goes to deserving community organizations.

But just as much doesn’t. It goes to supporting pet projects, frequently championed by those with political connections.

The whole system is rigged, but in the world of Albany spending, that’s hardly news.

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