Uncovering the Perks of Albany’s Fallen G.O.P. (More sleaze exposed)

[lurky]

Source: New York Times

ALBANY — Democrats took control of the State Senate last month after more than four decades of Republican rule, then set out to determine how the Senate’s own budget of nearly $100 million and its attendant perks were being distributed.
...

They recently realized there are some 75 employees working at the Senate’s own printing plant, a plain brick building on the outskirts of Albany. On Long Island, they found a small television studio, which had been set up — all with public money, with two press aides on hand to help operate it — for the exclusive use of Republican senators to record cable TV shows.

Democrats also came across what they are calling the “Brunomobile,” a $50,000 specially outfitted GMC van, with six leather captain’s chairs (some swiveling), a navigation system, rearview camera and meeting table. Joseph L. Bruno, the former Senate majority leader who was recently indicted on corruption charges, traveled in the van after his use of state helicopters sparked a feud with the Spitzer administration.

And Democratic leaders must determine what to do about 45 workers toiling away in a building close to the Capitol who appear to have been engaged in quasi-political research for the Republicans.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/nyregion/12repubs.html?hp

---

You should read this whole article. It's just disgusting how they used taxpayer money to fund their political operations. I'm not sure why these things still surprise me anymore...

[UpInArms]

1. more from your link:

Republicans have long defended their spending as the prerogative of the majority party, and also characterize as absurd the claim that they have been uncooperative — a smokescreen to hide that Democrats are now giving Republicans fewer resources than Democrats had received when they were in the minority. Indeed, Mr. Smith, while increasing the allotment for individual senators, is cutting the minority’s central staff budget to about $3 million from $7 million, after promising to put the minority party on more equal footing.

“That effectively neuters our ability to function as an opposition,” said Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican and the new minority leader. Still, many in the capital are tittering at the howls of anguish from the Republicans, who for so long gleefully starved the Democrats, and were known for paying their top staffers even more than the governor’s $179,000 salary.

these slimy creatures just continue to be uncovered by the light of day - let's hope it kills of their kind and something good grows from the dirt

[aquart]

2. Can you say... karma?

[UpInArms]

4. see post #3 - looks like their dogma may be in trouble too

[UpInArms]

3. and everyone should look at this earlier report:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01052009/news/columnists/gop_plot_to_tap_state_staff_for_re_elex__147227.htm

Last updated: 11:51 am
January 5, 2009
Posted: 1:20 am
January 5, 2009

AN EXPLOSIVE secret memo shows that Senate Republicans are plotting to use state-funded staff for political purposes in hopes of recapturing the Senate in two years.

The Senate Research Project memo, sent just before Christmas by a top aide to Senate GOP leader Dean Skelos, explicitly states that "everything we do" will be aimed at assisting the "communications and political operations and to make the work product produced more salient to members and their re-election programs."

It goes on to say that all the work of a newly reconstituted Senate Research Project - which is part of the Senate's official, publicly funded activities - will be reviewed from the "SRCC's perspective," according to a copy of the memo obtained by The Post.

The SRCC is the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, the GOP's political operation that spent more than $5 million in the November campaigns in an unsuccessful effort to hold on to the Senate majority.

The document provides a rare glimpse of the long-suspected co-mingling of official, publicly financed Senate duties and the Senate Republicans' privately financed political activities.

The memo says the Nassau County-based Skelos, whose term as majority leader ended Dec. 31, and his top deputy, Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton), "view this as a first step in the way that the 'new' Senate will be run."

The memo also notes, "Sen. Skelos has been fully briefed on this issue and he is committed to this effort to refocus these projects."

...more...

[lurky]

5. This is a large criminal conspiracy.

It sounds like the entire NY GOP leadership belongs in jail.

[relayerbob]

10. Just New York??????

[lurky]

16. Well, it would be a nice start...

:D

[No Elephants]

14. But, will they ever get prosecuted?

[Historic NY]

6. Add all that to the redistribution of tax money via pork & the little guy gets screwed..

So they don't know how many are one the payroll? The easiest way to find out is to halt all payment. This is why NY is in the hole and the accidental Gov. is kill us with new fees & taxes....charge them, investigate and convict. Obscene asshats...I'm going to make our local Sr. Repuke Sen squirm the next time I see him. He get all kinds of plaques from groups by redistributing our hard earned money. He has been doing it for more than 20 yrs.

[defendandprotect]

7. The loss of Spitzer is sad --

but quite a benefit to the GOP -- !!!

Spitzer was someone who could have offered strong leadership in progressive

directions, plus investigations/law enforcement.

Spitzer had gotten the Governors together to begin to act on the foreclosure

problems -- Bush put a stop to it.

Any hint of a Democratic leader and it disappears immediately, it seems ---

[madmom]

8. kick to read later

[hedgehog]

9. Years ago an investigation uncovered a scheme to skim off receipts at the department of

Motor Vehicles. No one ever noticed the drop in the receipts when the skimming started because the scheme was traced to the opening days of the bureau and had been handed down year after year!

[Mister Ed]

11. "they used taxpayer money to fund their political operations"

That has been the m/o of the whole neocon movement since its inception.

* Taxpayer funding of "faith-based initiatives" - but only to churches that support the neocon agenda.
* Massive government subsidies to businesses that massively subsidize neocon politicians.
* Using taxpayer's money to bribe "journalists" like Armstrong Williams to write pieces promoting Bushevik policies.

Anywhere, anytime you follow the money trail in their rise to power, it ultimately leads to the taxpayers who were fleeced.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Hope the NY Times, which threw away its credibilty totally during the Bush stolen Presidency

will do the public it claims to serve the honor of following up on this story, and reporting it accurately until there is nothing more to be learned.

What are the chances, anyway? Sheesh.

This could be an excellent story if they do it honestly. We've known the Republicans are this dirty for decades.
It's about time the remnants of the public "watchdog" attempts to serve the people's interests before turning its back on real news altogether.

[No Elephants]

13. See, Republicans DO know how to create jobs. And you thought they were only about tax cuts!

[eilen]

15. well well well

I bet if they checked, it would appear the same in other states. That is the only explanation for the sorry budget shortfalls and high deficits following a period of inflated home sales and record sales tax income from high gas prices.

Especially the income in NY-- we have a state income tax, a sales tax, high thruway tolls, high property and school taxes in addition to various and sundry fees. Where did all that money go? How can we have a deficit?

[DCKit]

17. How many NY Republics have announced retirement to spend more time with their families? n/t

[Historic NY]

18. Not enough, they act all so smug.