Local Pork

. . . And This Little Piggy

Here are some initial highlights of local/regional member item spending from the 2007-08 Enacted NYS Budget -

Genesee Regional Homecare Association, Inc. received a grant of $15,000. The group also received another grant under the name Genesee Region Homecare Association.

Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly, Inc. received funding in the amount of $11,000.

The Town of Henrietta received $30,000 in funding compared with the Town of Irondequoit which received $65,000. The Town of Dansville received $70,000.

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association - Rochester Chapter, Inc. received $5,000.

Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley received two separate grants for $50,000 and $25,000.

The University of Rochester Medical Center was the recipient of five grants totaling $135,000.

The Greater Rochester Visitors Association received $20,000. The Greater Rochester Visitor (notice the s is dropped) received two more grants totaling $125,000.

$200,000 was granted to the Rochester Tooling and Machining Association.

The Town of Leroy received $15,000, the Village will get $23,000.

Ontario County will receive $30,000.

$30,000 was set aside for the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

Arts for Greater Rochester received $25,000 while Artwalk of Rochester was the recipient of two separate grants totaling $30,000.

Garth Fagan Dance received one grant for $50,000 and Garth Fagan Dance, Inc. received $25,000.

Grants for $10,000 and $5,000 went to the George Eastman House.

Geva Theatre was the recipient of $50,000.

The Greece Chamber of Commerce Foundation will receive $20,000.

The Henrietta Foundation, Inc. (never heard of it) received $50,000.

$35,000 will go to the Village of Livonia in Livingston County.

$15,000 was set aside for Monroe County.

The Ontario County Historical Society is the recipient of $45,000.

Rochester's Philharmonic Orchestra received $100,000 while the City of Rochester was the recipient of $70,000.

$5,000 will go to this year's Lilac Festival.

The Brighton Fire District and Volunteer Ambulance, Inc. each received $20,000.

$500,000 will go to the Geneva Community Center.

The Livingston County Clerks' Office received two grants totaling $51,000 while the County Government Center received $16,000.

The Village of Penn Yan is the recipient of $80,000.

The Rochester Regional Community Design Center will receive $35,000.

RIT Interpreters for the Deaf will receive funding in the amount of $100,000.

$125,000 will go to the Finger Lakes Institute.

Friends of the Community Charter School of Rochester, Inc received $10,000.

$35,000 will go to the WXXI Public Broadcasting Council.

The Rochester Regional Library Council is the recipient of $30,000.

Prisoners' Legal Services (yes, legal services for individuals already convicted of a crime) received one of the largest grants: $2,285,000.

The Ontario County Sheriff Department will receive $10,000.


This is by no means a complete list. A full listing of all member item monies distributed (all 162 pages) is available here.

Where's The Pork?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I smell bacon. It is Christmas time again for all of New York state's political cronies.

The Empire Center has released its report on Member Item monies, or pork, in the 2007-08 NYS Enacted Budget. All you lefties who click on the embedded link, be careful, the Empire Center is a conservative think tank and I know some of you have an aversion to such groups.

Staffers here at the WBP are reviewing the 162 pages of member items and we will provide you with a more regionally specific analysis later this evening.

In the meantime, here are some highlights:

Although it has been widely reported that the budget included a total of $170 million in new legislative pork, our analysis of budget bills turned up only $101 million in individual appropriations listed under various subtotals for the "Community Projects 007" account, which traditionally is the funding source for legislative member items. Moreover, while the two houses traditionally divide the member-item grants into equal amounts, our totals (as summarized below) are unevenly distributed between the Senate and Assembly.
-snip-

. . . as of ten days after the budget was passed, neither the Senate nor the Assembly had made good on a promise to release an authoritative list of member items. The Legislature also has not identified individual sponsors of member items (although Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno released his personal list). Also still missing from the public record is any information on the purpose of, or justification for, any of the member-item expenditures.

- The Senate majority's 2,427 member items totaled $56.5 million.

- Senate Democrats issued 982 member items totaling $6.5 million.

- Prisoner's Legal Services received the largest member item from Assembly Democrats, with a $2.3 million grant. There were 1,682 member items lined out in the new budget bills from the Assembly Majority totaling $31.4 million.

- Assembly Republicans issued 730 member items totaling $4.2 million. The two largest grants; both totaling $50,000 -- went to the Williamsville Junior Football program and the Town of Greenwood.

- At least 666 grants totaling $6.5 million were awarded to senior-citizen organizations statewide. Veterans groups, including American Legion posts, accounted for at least 151 member items totaling $1.5 million.

- At least 599 grants totaling $6.8 million went to public, private and charter schools, and to public libraries across the state.

More analysis of local impact to come -

Who Gets What

Aid to Community Colleges

The NYS Assembly website has a listing of aid for community colleges in the 2007-08 Enacted Budget. How did our region fare?

Finger Lakes
Estimated Funded Enrollment: 3,528
Executive Proposed $100 Base Aid Increase: $352,818
Enacted $50 Base Aid Increase: $176,409
Total 07-08 Base Aid Increase: $529,227

Monroe
Estimated Funded Enrollment: 14,220
Executive Proposed $100 Base Aid Increase: $1,421,976
Enacted $50 Base Aid Increase: $710,988
Total 07-08 Base Aid Increase: $2,132,964

Where's the Accountability?

Local Leaders Question Rivera's Role

Continuing down the slippery education funding slope, which saw its grade steepened by initiatives that set hazardous precedents like the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the 2007-08 Enacted Budget works further to take the issue out of the hands of localities and centralize the power to disburse funding in Albany - not a recipe for success in my book.

The passing of Maintenance of Effort legislation in the state budget requires the City of Rochester to give the City School District the same amount of aid as last year with no ties to accountability or performance standards.

Puzzling for a district which, despite receiving considerably more in aid than districts in other Upstate cities, has produced one of the most dismal graduation rates in the nation. According to statements from Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green on the Brother Wease program last week, he possesses data which indicates that only 25%-35% of RCSD students eventually graduate.

Why, in the midst of a conversational storm about reform and accountability standards, would this Maintenance of Effort legislation be passed? Some local leaders are questioning the role Manny Rivera, currently in a dual role as Superintendent and gubernatorial Education chief, played in its passage:

“I question why it was put in place with absolutely no language for accountability whatsoever,” [Rochester Mayor Bob] Duffy said.

Duffy has been highly critical of the district’s dismal four-year graduation rate, and wanted the option to pull funding. The city is facing a $17 million budget gap.

A month ago, the mayor sent a letter to the school district demanding information relating to spending and academic performance. In his State of the City address last week, he proposed tying school aid to results. He has not received a response from school officials.

Morelle says he was the only lawmaker to take the floor to oppose the maintenance of effort legislation. He said the law is unprecedented, and has the effect of taking away local control and accountability of school funds.

Morelle suspects Rochester’s superintendent, Dr. Manuel Rivera, played a role in getting the bill passed. Rivera has been serving as the governor’s deputy education secretary, a job he will assume full time next month.

“I certainly think there may have been undue influence by Manny as a superintendent, and while there is disclosure about that, I just think it's something we need to think about,” Morelle said. “I think he needs to question whether or not he can serve both masters at the same time.” 13WHAM asked Mayor Duffy if he believed Rivera played any role in getting the legislation passed.

“In terms of the role of the superintendent, I would say this, that's a very good ethical question and I'm going to decline comment at this time,” Duffy said.

Rivera had already counted the full $119 million in the budget he submitted to the school board last month.

Who Gets What

Budget Numbers for Your Area

The NYS Budget Division has numbers posted for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) portion of the recently Enacted Budget.

The 2007-08 Enacted Budget restructures AIM to target additional State aid primarily to fiscally distressed municipalities. An AIM increase of $50 million is authorized in 2007-08, and in each of the three following years, for a four-year total of $200 million. These increases are tied to enhanced accountability requirements that encourage local fiscal improvement. Finally, the 2007-08 AIM program continues to provide incentive grants to local governments that consolidate or share services under a $25 million Shared Municipal Services Incentive (SMSI) grant program.

DOB allows users to search by zip code or name for their own county, city, town or village and its respective allotment of AIM funding.

Think This Budget is Done?

Not Hardly

“The governor may at any time within thirty days thereafter and, with the consent of the legislature, at any time before the adjournment thereof, amend or supplement the budget and submit amendments to any bills submitted by him or her or submit supplemental bills.”

That is from the New York state constitution and that means this budget is far from over and patting anyone on the back for passing it "on-time" is misguided and undeserved. Sorry Steamroller.

Of the many special interest additions we will likely see over the next few weeks, one of the items at the top of the legislature's to-do list in the coming days is a nice little pay raise for themselves. I challenge any reader to give me a logical reason why they actually deserve a raise.

One more thing, has anyone been able to find a breakdown of individual legislator's votes on the budget? The Assembly page search tool is useful if you know the individual bill numbers but most of the Senate and Assembly members did not even see those.

This is Government?

Why no April Fools' Day fake news post? Well, because we think they are lame and what is happening at the state capitol is amusing and disturbing enough -

Like a high school freshman rushing through his homework that he left until last minute even though it was assigned to him a month ago, cutting and pasting from Wikipedia without actually reading any of it and hoping his teacher won't notice; the NYS Leg blew through a flurry of bills last night - only pausing for the delays it took to print them.

So much for reform and the inclusion of rank-and-file legislators, the ones you and I elected, in the decision making process. Our representatives are not even allowed the opportunity to read the bills, much less consider the impact of the legislation on his or her respective district.

"How am I voting Mr. Leader? Ok, thank you Mr. Leader, may I have some more money now?"

What did all the backroom dealing, cronyism and influence peddling get us? A budget that increases spending at THREE TIMES the rate of inflation. The new Governor considers the budget a "success." Whatever you say Spitz . . .

Diana Fortuna of the Citizens Budget Commission sums it up:

"The rush to pass legislation before the public or even lawmakers have a chance to consider it is a continuation of business as usual," Fortuna said. "The budget process is still a mess."

Working for the Weekend

Our state legislature is actually working on a Saturday. Why not, they take off the other 364 days of the year.

As midnight approaches the latest budget news:

- No tax credits for private school tuition;
- Rochester will not receive any additional funding beyond the 33% increase from last year's level;
- Current total looks to be around $121 billion.

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems

New Yorkers Pay More But Just Not Happy

The Center for Governmental Research compared local governments in New York and Virginia, here is what it found:

CGR prepared a study for the Long Island Index that compared local governments in the two counties on Long Island with two comparable counties in northern Virginia. Including school districts and special districts, Long Island has 439 local government entities compared with 17 in northern Virginia. Long Island governments spend 45% more, per capita, than their northern Virginia counterparts, and local property taxes are 55% higher on Long Island. Despite that, a comprehensive survey of both regions found that citizens in northern Virginia rate the level of service provided by local governments and schools higher, and say they have better access to government officials.

What's Good For the Goose is Not Neccesarily Good for the Dems

Federal Pork Oversight Weakened

From a Washington Times story -

The federal agency that tracked pork-barrel spending during the 12 years of the Republican congressional majority has discontinued the practice since Democrats took power . . .

CRS, a nonpartisan agency of the Library of Congress created to conduct research for members of Congress on legislative issues, changed its policy in February -- a month after Democrats took control of the Congress and vowed to curb the number of special-interest projects inserted into spending bills or even reports that don't require a vote. CRS Director Daniel P. Mulhollan developed the policy after consulting with "internal CRS appropriations experts" and deciding the service was redundant with what other agencies do, CRS spokeswoman Janine D'Addario said.


"His decision was strictly an internal decision," said Miss D'Addario, whose agency began providing Congress members with information on earmarks in 1994, when Mr. Mulhollan took over as director.
-snip-

Several lawmakers, particularly those who had come to rely on the agency to identify the dollar value of earmarks in appropriations and other laws, were caught off guard by the change.

"It's troubling -- I can't think of any justification for that," said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. "They've done good research in the past ... That's what they're here for -- the benefit of the members" of Congress.
-snip-

Republicans said they want an independent observer because pork is often in the eye of the beholder and estimates of the amount vary widely.

Citizens Against Government Waste put the figure for 2006 at $29 billion, while Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said it was $17 billion. Mr. DeMint, citing a CRS report, said the amount totaled more than $67 billion.

Mr. DeMint said no other agency or group has the resources, expertise and access to provide Congress with data on earmarks. "This is really baffling that CRS would do this," he said.
-snip-

When Democrats took control of the 110th Congress in January, they promised to limit the long-standing and bipartisan practice of slipping pork spending into bills. But when the House last week passed a $124 billion emergency war-funding provision, the bill included as much as $20 billion in nonmilitary and pork-barrel spending, a move widely criticized . . .
-snip-

The emergency war-funding provision included $74 million for the peanut industry, $124 million for the shrimp industry and $25 million for spinach producers. The war-funding bill is proof an independent third-party observer like the Congressional Research Service is needed to keep track of earmarks, many in Congress say.

"I can tell you it's very difficult to get this type of information from the [House] Appropriations Committee -- very difficult," Mr. Flake said.

Just because the joke of an administration currently occupying the White House is Republican does not mean that we should be blind to Democratic shenanigans.

The CRS said it is cutting back because of redundancy, yet no other governmental organization is designed to digest and compile such information and present it to the Congressional body.

As indicated in the article, third party oversight of such issues gives the public an accurate picture of the economic implications of legislation, rather than the doctored numbers that communicate the message which the party in power wants to be heard.

Spitz Makes Concessions

Steamroller Compromises With Senate GOP

NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a tentative budget agreement between legislative leaders. The unnerving part of the announcement was the absence of any of those other leaders.

How did it (maybe) get done? Spitzer, Bruno and Silver ignored the warnings of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and decided to spend more tax dollars:

- More than $350 million added to offset proposed cuts in healthcare.

- Approximately $500 million added to education spending to reduce the number of save-harmless districts and provide increased operating aid for districts throughout the state.

- The property tax relief program will provide savings via rebate checks.

- Certain provisions of the proposed corporate tax loophole package will be offset by business tax reductions.

It will be amazing if this agreement actually holds together, but it is obvious that Steamroller Spitzer is all too aware of how to play the Albany Deal Game. Did Spitz cave in the face of falling poll approval numbers? Why concede to the Senate GOP that, given party dynamics and leg majorities, is really the only Republican game in town?

Unfortunately, we will likely never know the answers to these and other questions as the negotiations have taken place in private via the classic "Three Men in a Room" style of politics. So much for reform -

NYS Assembly Highlights: 3/19 - 3/23

Ah spring, when a young man's fancies turn to thoughts of budget negotiations - a budget that is supposed to be passed one week from today. We are not holding our breath.

Speaker Sheldon Silver has released his list of action items from last week's Assembly sessions. Highlights include:

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced that the Assembly gave final passage to legislation to change New York State's presidential primary date from March 4 to February 5, 2008.

"The earlier primary date will give our state the edge we need to lock in a candidate's commitment to New York and enhance our ability to select the best presidential candidate for the state and nation," said Silver. He noted that by passing this legislation, New York will now be linked with other influential states that have demographic as well as public-policy issues and needs similar to New York State's.

This is really just a political money-grab. By moving the Primary date up the scales are tipped in favor of the candidate who heads into the early primaries with the largest war chest. For example, a Hillary Clinton will have a much better chance of winning the party nomination than a Dennis Kucinich who would more likely gain momentum and votes through communicating ideas and establishing himself as an alternative candidate, rather than coming out of the gates as a favorite. In the middle of it all will be the state party leaders, bleeding media and personnel funds out of the massive campaign accounts with the promise of delegates.

Silver announced the passage of legislation to continue the reimbursement of counseling expenses for relief workers or individuals who personally witnessed the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
-snip-

Under the bill (A.6621, Silver / S.3039, Maltese), traumatized bystanders who were within a 10-block radius of the WTC site when the attack occurred and relief workers would continue to have their counseling services reimbursed until December 31, 2007. This benefit is available without regard to the residence or financial difficulty of a claimant. The rate of reimbursement is determined by a claimant's treating counselor or independent medical examiner and is based on a percentage of the counseling service that is related to the claimant's injury that is a direct result of the 9/11 attack. There is no cap on the reimbursement expense.

Undoubtedly we have a responsibility to help relief workers and the families of victims, but to expand coverage to those whom "personally witnessed" the attacks? The entire nation was, in a way, witnesses on that day and what of those who saw the Pentagon attack or the "crash" of Flight 85? Were their experiences any less chilling and upsetting?

As far as the arbitrary "10-block radius," I would have loved to been in on the conversation where they came up with that one. No caps on these reimbursements either - yikes.

Silver joined Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Lt. Gov. David Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno as well as the minority leaders from each house for a meeting in the Capitol to discuss, in public, a budget for the state's fiscal year 2007-08. Silver and Spitzer urged Senator Bruno and Senate Republicans to
reduce their excessive spending proposal to a level that is closer to the additional state revenue amount of $575 million that all parties agreed to earlier this month.

They may discuss it in public, but we will never see any deal made in public. As far as the additional $575 million is state revenue, more can be found on that fallacy here.

...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.

NYS February Cash Report

Comptroller Update on Coffers

NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli issued his February cash report yesterday. What is seen are the same outrageous spending trends that will ultimately bankrupt our state.

With eleven months of the State’s 2006-07 fiscal year complete General Fund receipts were $3.9 billion or 9.3 percent ahead of last year, All Funds receipts were $4.0 billion or 4.2 percent ahead of last year.

General Fund spending was $40.9 billion in the first eleven months of the fiscal year. This is $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent higher than during the first eleven months of the 2005-06 fiscal year. All Funds spending of $95.3 billion was $7.8 billion or 8.9 percent higher than last year.

Also, this so-called "surplus" we have been hearing so much about from better than expected tax collections does not exist.

The increased revenues currently in the closing balance can be attributed to slower than anticipated refunds issued to date. Also, spending is below the Financial Plan primarily due to the timing of Local Assistance payments planned for February, but will have been paid in March in four areas, including education aid, welfare, special education and children and family service spending.

While $500 million in personal income tax refunds were accelerated at the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, which would have the effect of increasing year to year variance, planned refunds expected to be paid in February 2007 did not accumulate as anticipated in the Financial Plan. As a result, to date, collections after refunds are currently higher than projected. It is expected that refunds in March 2007 will accelerate and therefore be on target with Financial Plan projections.

Total General Fund disbursements increased $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent as compared with the first eleven months of 2005-06 fiscal year. The growth in General Fund disbursements is driven by increases in education, health, and social services spending, along with additional payroll disbursements associated with retroactive collective bargaining agreements during this year compared to the same period last year.

Yes, that's right; union employees were paid for the year, decided they weren't paid enough and then used their stranglehold applied on the legislature by their lobbies to bargain for additional compensation. Try going to your boss and asking for a little extra on top of your paycheck from last month and see how what kind of reaction your receive.

Then there is what I call the "section the SEIU/1099 does not want you to see." New York not spending enough on health care? Not so much.

Spending in the Health and Environment category nearly tripled from $398.9 million to $1.1 billion, due primarily to the State’s obligation to pay prescription drug costs for New Yorkers who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who have temporarily lost prescription drug coverage because of complications with the Federal government’s implementation of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Social Services spending increased 5.3 percent, from $9.7 billion to $10.2 billion, due to several factors including:

- increasing cost of the Medicaid program providing health care services and prescription drugs
- rising number of recipients of publicly financed health care
- increasing medical service utilization in hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care programs
- an additional Medicaid cycle payment through February 2007

Granted, unfunded federal mandates factor into this equation, but New York state's Medicaid payments are well above the national average for many programs and that cannot be blamed on the Feds. Nor can New York use this point in defense as the state government passes plenty unfunded mandates of their own along to localities.

As for the "pork" that New York state voters and taxpayers love so much: spending on capital projects increased $420.5 million, or 10.7 percent.

SEIU: We're Not Fans

Voters Love Gov, Health Unions Don't

In response to a letter by state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long to Governor Spitzer, Jennifer Cunningham of SEIU/1199 issued the following statement:

“When New Yorkers elected Eliot Spitzer, we voted for a Democrat who we thought held firmly Democratic principles like supporting healthcare and public schools.”

“Now, as he’s accepting the kudos of the New York State Conservative Party, we have to wonder: Who will the governor stand with next in order to pass his wrongheaded budget?”

Spitzer did not really stand with Long, Long stood with Spitzer. Long did so because of the three legislative budgets presented thus far the Executive spends the least, while still increasing spending by twice the rate of inflation. While New Yorkers recognize that these trends cannot continue our representatives do not and that is why Long placed his support behind the Gov.

No one wants to see schools and hospitals close but spending more does not always get you more.

NYS Senate Alienating Base

GOP Party Politics Incur Wrath of Conservatives

Republicans in the NYS Assembly have been criticizing budget proposals by their Dem colleagues and Governor Spitzer. The Assembly GOP has noted that out-year budget gaps will grow and spending increases at double the rate of inflation. This is a common complaint by the GOP which traditionally, in theory, supports decreases in governmental spending.

Given their minority, however, Assembly Republicans have little recourse in their house. Who has come to their aid in this grand battle? The GOP majority in the Senate, right?

Not so much.

The Senate budget plan actually calls for spending beyond that proposed by Democrats and Spitzer. The reasoning? There is none. This is nothing but a disgusting example of petty party politics. I can imagine Bruno's thought process:

"Taxes are bad, spending is bad and Democrats like both of those things so they are really bad, decrease spending, pray to Reagan. Wait . . . the Dems want to cut spending? Spending is good! Increase spending!"

Now, though, the GOP base is starting to take notice of the Senate's disregard for party ideals; so much so that the State Conservative Party Chairman is reaching out to support Governor Spitzer:

Conservative Party State Chairman, Michael R. Long, acknowledged that he and Governor Eliot Spitzer would be considered “strange bedfellows” regarding this years proposed state budget. However, with the additions made by the Republican controlled State Senate, Chairman Long told the Governor, in a letter sent yesterday, that he would have to re-evaluate his proposals.
-snip-

"As difficult as your budget is, what the Republican controlled Senate is proposing, forces me to re-evaluate your proposals.

We support your efforts to cut health-care. And we support your efforts to increase the number of Charter Schools in New York State. Both these areas of spending comprise the largest portions of New York’s budget. We must get them under control and end the massive amounts poured into health-care and education each year with very little positive results.

Hopefully we can work together, this year.
-snip-

We may find that “strange bedfellows” will help bring New York back to being the economic engine of the United States."

Fiscal Conservatives getting in bed with Democrats because the Republican party is so out of touch with society that it has lost complete sight of GOP ideals? Sounds like the staff here at the WBP.

NYS Comptroller Warns About Spending

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has released his 2007-08 Executive Budget Review. The review has a great way of complementing Governor Spitzer right before it bitch slaps him.

That said, DiNapoli is right in many of his points. Spending continues to increase and the so-called "tax cuts" Spitzer has promised are replaced by higher fees. Additionally, some changes to the health care insurance system will actually end up costing New Yorkers more money.

All the while legislators are telling us we actually have a surplus in the state coffers and using it as an excuse to restore funding to previous levels. Former Governor Pataki had a way of proposing reductions in spending only to make late hour restoration deals before the deadline; Spitzer has promised he will not engage in this practice and we will hold him to that promise.

As for DiNapoli's budget review -

While the Executive Budget incorporates certain positive measures, there are a number of areas where the proposal falls short of reform, and in fact, repeats many of the poor fiscal management practices adopted in prior years.

First, year-to-year spending growth is unsustainable.

In other words, big promises for which New Yorkers' taxes will pay. What about that surplus we have all been hearing so much about? One thing about that:

. . . expected growth does not include $2.7 billion in capital spending that is proposed to occur off-budget. Accounting for offbudget spending would increase All Funds spending growth to 7.0 percent and State Funds spending to 8.8 percent as compared to 2006-07.

I cannot imagine any Executive who would keep his or her job after spending $2.7 billion "off-budget." The problem is that 2.7 billion is such a small amount in the eyes of our government; that is less than 2% of the total budget, why should they care?

. . . the 2007-08 Executive Budget continues to generate sizable out-year gaps . . . The cause of the gaps can be attributed to spending, which is projected to grow nearly twice as fast as receipts and two and one-half times the projected average rate of inflation.

. . . the 2007-08 Executive Budget continues to rely on debt rather than substantially increasing pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) capital spending. Based on the Executive’s proposed Five-Year Capital Program and Financing Plan, outstanding State-Funded debt will increase to $65.6 billion by the end of 2011-12, representing a 27.1 percent increase from 2006-07 and a 97.9 percent increase from 1997.

Who is paying for this? I'm not paying for this, are you paying for this?

One high note was DiNapoli's statement that local governments Upstate will benefit significantly from 'shudder' economic development 'shudder' efforts. That is one term we are very weary of here at the WBP but we will wait to rule on this one.

Another interesting note:

Due to New York’s delay in purchasing new voting machines and implementing other components of HAVA, the federal government may require New York to return approximately $50 million of the $190 million in federal funding targeted for the purchase of new machines.

Way to go.

States Denouncing Iraq Policy

Online Activism Motivates Legislatures

If fed representatives won't listen, maybe state reps will.

Twenty states have either passed or are considering some form of resolution that opposes troop escalation in Iraq or calls for outright withdrawal of U.S. forces. New York is one of the states currently considering a resolution.

What has motivated these legislatures to weigh in on an issue they have no direct control over? This particular campaign was spearheaded by the Progressive States Network and is an example of the digital media's grassroots 50 state focus. The strategy is widely attributed with the success of the Democrats in the most recent elections and, as a recent article from the Christian Science Monitor suggests, is now poised to overturn the Bush administration's war policy:

The current push at the state level was spurred largely by a mid-January initiative by liberal advocacy groups, including the Progressive States Network and MoveOn.org, with support from US Sen. Edward Kennedy (D) of Massachusetts. Launched as Congress wrangled over whether to debate Mr. Bush's new Iraq strategy, the online campaign urged war critics to bombard their local as well as national elected representatives with calls for action.

"The Internet is making the 50-state campaigns easier and cheaper," says Christopher Cooper, a political scientist at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C. "This has led to an increasing nationalization of state politics."
-snip-

"State legislatures are the representative bodies that are closest to the people, and they have been hearing from constituents who are frustrated with the war," says Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, in an e-mail. "As more state legislatures take up resolutions on Iraq, it will add to the mounting pressure for the president and Congress to change strategies."

Votes and debates in state legislatures break along party lines, with Republicans saying lawmakers should not waste energy on actions that carry little weight. They also contend that these types of resolutions send the wrong message to US troops. But their clout has waned since last fall's elections, when the GOP lost majorities in five state legislatures. They now control 15 legislatures to the Democrats' 23.

While the politics remain contentious, the technological take-away is simpler: Online activism is pushing national issues to the states.

"The Internet helps decentralize political activism," says John Horrigan of the Pew Internet & American Life Project. "You no longer have to organize a protest in Washington, D.C." to get your point across.
-snip-

The growth in Internet-based grass-roots groups doesn't mean more activists are out there, but it does mean people have found a faster way to reach large number of supporters, Mr. Horrigan says. So far, liberal Democrats have the edge. A Pew study has shown them to be the most likely online activists. "At least [for] now, the Internet is a space where Democrats are slightly busier with online tools," he adds.

In the case of the Iraq resolutions in the states, activism helped give a national debate some local flavor, Mr. Barkin says. The aim remains to make Washington pay attention, but the means of doing so are changing.

"You put in 500 calls to a [legislator in Washington] and you will send a message," says Barkin. "But you put 500 calls to a state legislator and it shakes the whole building."

Do state legislators have a leg to stand on in demanding the Feds take notice? When one looks at the costs to the states and local communities the answer is yes. According to the National Priorities Project, the war in Iraq has cost Monroe County $1,600,000,000 - yes that is billion. This same organization estimates the war has cost New Yorkers $33.9 billion as of September of 2006.

New York Overpays on Medicaid

According to a new report from the Empire Center for New York State Policy, Medicaid spending on the elderly in New York between 1999 and 2004 rose 55 percent. The rate of increase in other states was just 9 percent.

At the end of the five year period, "New York's spending of $27,200 per elderly recipient was 142 percent more than the average for other states."

The report is part one of the ECNYSP's Medicaid In Depth series which states that New York could save nearly $5 billion by making elderly payouts comparable to those of other states. The elderly portion, which accounts for 7% of the state's medicaid population, currently receives 25% of all Medicaid benefits paid out.

How They Spend Our Money

About As Useful As . . .

A new year brings with it new budgets and new purchases and our government is no different. In our newest feature the Water Buffalo Press will spotlight recent governmental purchases through public bids, the figures we will list will be numbers from the lowest bidder - although the contract does not always go to the lowest bidder.

Our first highlight comes from the City of Rochester and is about as valuable as an extra head. Bid number 106680 was for annual plants and an 'Apparent Low' (the City's term, not mine) of $10,481 was received from Fernecchia Farms. There was only one problem: Fernecchia Farms was the only group to bid. A rebid, number 106685, was conducted two weeks later and at least three bids were received. This time Fernecchia received the contract because they were the low bidder, right? Nope - Fernecchia did not even appear to bid this time as they were not listed in the 'Apparent Lows.' But the winning bidder was around $10,000, right? Nope - the lowest bidder this time around was Blue Heron at $23,097. That's right - taxpayers will shell out at least $23,000 this year for some flowers and a spider plant.