...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Pork

Cuomo Increases Member Item Oversight

Obviously aware of where one can go after the state Attorney General's office, ala Spitz, AG Andrew Cuomo has been extremely active since taking the reins - and extremely effective.

Cuomo's name has been in the news but, rather than grandstanding, his headlines have come for undertaking much needed government reforms such as the incentives received by public authority boards and dishonest college loan practices.

Today, the AG took aim at another of New York's bureaucratic travesties: member item funding, or pork.

Under the terms of the reform, the two main goals of disclosure and accountability will be assured by adding Disclosure and Accountability Certifications to member item contracts for not-for-profit and for-profit corporations. Governmental bodies, such as cities, school districts and fire districts, will not be required to file the certifications.

The Disclosure and Accountability Certifications will have the organizations receiving grants attest to any conflicts of interest, the public purpose of the taxpayer funds, and the bona fides of the organization’s good standing.

“Member items have been a source of increasing public concern,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While my Office continues its review of member item contracts, it is important that the public be assured that, going forward, such spending will be transparent and accountable. I applaud the legislative leaders’ cooperation in maintaining the pace of reform.”

Examples of the disclosure forms can be found here and here.

This much-needed reform is welcome but the exemption of governmental bodies seems puzzling given the attention to conflicts of interest. Municipalities and school districts would appear, to me at least, as two sections lending themselves to cronyism and in need of greater oversight.

While Cuomo's actions up to this point have been far-reaching, drastic reforms; the initiative put forth today stops just short ("You stole my move!") of the changes that New Yorkers deserve.