ALBANY – They used to be called member items, when state assembly members and senators were given large sums of money to dole out to constituent groups. They were a veiled means of essentially buying votes from constituents by showing that they were bringing money back to their districts. Those were abolished several years ago, but have now returned under the name State and Municipal Grants.
Either way, Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor (R, East Fishkill) said they are pork; funds legislative leaders give the members for projects to maintain their loyalty for the big picture and to endear them to the voters. He said he has refused to take any of that “pork” money because he was elected to cut spending, not increase it.
“Truly good projects should be a line item in the budget transparently voted on or it should be a standalone bill,” Lalor said. “One-hundred thousand dollars for a new roof on a local firehouse, put it as a line item in the budget or vote on it as a standalone bill adds transparency and addresses the need.”
In the several weeks before the November election, state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are handing out tens of thousands of dollars for sidewalks, street sweepers and other municipal infrastructure leading some to question the timing of the grant announcements.
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