THE "PORK" IN NEW YORK, Thoughts of an older American on Constitutional Government in the USA Options

[Livyjr]

"Feeding off taxpayers no crime, lawyer says - Cronyism, big spending called usual government practice at Strevell trial"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Thursday, January 18, 2007

ALBANY -- A defense lawyer for the Rensselaer County entrepreneur whose organization got more than $1 million in member item grants directed by Sen. Joseph L. Bruno is arguing in federal court that dishonesty isn't necessarily a federal offense.

William P. Fanciullo, lawyer for J. Felix Strevell, the former director of the now-defunct Institute for Entrepreneurship, also said that Strevell's actions, including putting relatives on the state payroll, were normal practices in government.

The case before U.S. District Court Justice Gary L. Sharpe centers on Strevell's lavish spending on himself and on parties that honored lawmakers who helped him get public money.

Among its funding sources, the institute received two $500,000 discretionary grants, known as member items, through Bruno in 1999 and 2001.

Strevell allegedly misused some of the $8 million in mostly taxpayer funds raised by the institute during his reign from 1998 to 2001, when he and his brother, Chauncey, the former chief operating officer, abruptly quit.

While at the institute, Strevell hired friends, relatives of powerful Republicans, his daughter and his daughter's boyfriend.

He also used institute funds to purchase clothing and trips for himself and family members.

The institute's activities, revealed by the Times Union, became an embarrassment for Republican leaders who had supported it, including Bruno, R-Brunswick, Gov. George Pataki and his administration, and former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park.

Prosecutors say Strevell, a former state bureaucrat, manipulated the system to set up the nonprofit institute as an offshoot of state government.

He worked to improperly enrich himself and his family, the indictment says, receiving a base salary of $225,000 plus $24,000 for a housing stipend, trips for family members and merchandise for his personal use, including a $64,000 recreational vehicle.

Strevell also allegedly doctored the record of a board vote that resulted in his pay rising by $95,000.

Fanciullo said Strevell's management of the institute followed normal and accepted practices of government, including the hiring of kin, and that the salary vote was legitimate.

The "PORK-OCRACY" of the State of New York in action .....

FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE ....

OF ENRICHING THE POLITICALLY-CONNECTED .....

AT OUR EXPENSE ....

And so ...

"Bruno facing FBI scrutiny - Federal investigators are looking into the outside business interests of state Senate majority leader"

By JAMES M. ODATO and RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Wednesday, December 20, 2006

ALBANY -- Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno on Tuesday acknowledged he is being investigated by the FBI for what he described as his "outside business interests."

One person familiar with the situation, who would not say whether he has been contacted by federal agents, said the investigation appears to include Bruno and a business partner and friend of the Republican leader -- Jared Abbruzzese.

Bruno, in an abruptly called late afternoon news conference at the Capitol, revealed the probe and said he learned last spring it was going on.

He said subpoenas have been issued, and he did not believe he was the target of the inquiry.

"I have nothing to hide," Bruno said.

"They are going into background over the past five or six years."

Bruno added that he has hired William Dreyer, an Albany lawyer and former federal prosecutor.

The New York State Republican Campaign Committee paid Dreyer's firm about $2,400 between July and November.

Abbruzzese, of Loudonville, could not be reached Tuesday.

His attorney, Stephen Coffey, a former Albany County prosecutor, said he is "not aware of Abbruzzese being involved in any federal investigation or prosecution."

But told of Bruno's revelations, he said it "makes sense ... they're looking at anybody involved with Senator Bruno."

John Pikus, the FBI's special agent in charge in Albany, declined comment, referring questions to the office of U.S. Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby.

Calls to the U.S. attorney's office in Albany and Syracuse were not returned late Tuesday.

Paul Larrabee, a spokesman for Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, said he could not comment on the legality of member-item grants going to for-profit organizations.

Asked repeatedly over the past week, Larrabee said he couldn't offer an opinion on the matter because "it's just not a priority at this time."

Abbruzzese, a horse owner, is involved in numerous ventures, including at least one that has received $500,000 in discretionary grants, called member items, directed by Bruno.

The two have several ties, including land development, plane rides and thoroughbred horses.

Abbruzzese is part of a group called Empire Racing Associates, which bid on the state's racing franchise that officials, including Bruno, plan to award within the next year.

Abbruzzese led the effort to raise $3 million to fund the organization this spring.

He also is under state investigation for furnishing his aircraft to Bruno for political and fundraising trips.

Bruno owns or has interests in several businesses, including Capital Business Consultants, a firm he started at his Brunswick home after he sold his telecommunications company in 1990.

Bruno has refused to name any of his various business partners or clients.

He wouldn't say if the federal inquiry involved Evident Technologies Inc., a Troy-based high-tech firm that Bruno sent $500,000 in member items to between 2001 and 2004, according to records the Senate made public recently following a Times Union lawsuit seeking the documents.

The two $250,000 grants were extremely unusual because member items almost never go to for-profit companies such as Evident.

Abbruzzese was co-chairman of Evident.

His business partner, Wayne Barr, who was Bruno's appointee on the New York Racing Association, is a director.

Investment firms run by Abbruzzese and Barr helped arrange financing for Evident.

The firms, which included Dove Interests and Niskayuna Development LLC, were able to purchase Evident stock in 2002 and 2004 at deep discounts from the price for private investors, according to a confidential preliminary offering memo obtained by the Times Union.

Bruno's financial disclosure forms with the Legislature show he purchased shares in a security company, Tejas, around 2004.

Tejas employed Barr and Abbruzzese and was associated with the Evident stock offering.

In addition to Bruno's member-item money going to Evident, Empire State Development Corp., the state's economic development arm, gave the company another $525,000.

Abbruzzese's right to discounted Evident stock came from helping set up the Empire State Development money, according to the confidential memo.

Also, Abbruzzese is being investigated by the state Lobbying Commission for lending Bruno his private plane on several trips, including one to a fundraiser and a tour of several Kentucky horse farms that Barr arranged.

Bruno's spokesmen have said the senator's campaign committee paid for the trips.

Abbruzzese and Barr also have contributed generously to political campaign committees controlled by Bruno, including the one Dreyer is getting paid from.

Several years ago, Abbruzzese's wife, Sherrie, purchased a plot of land from a group in which Bruno held a 25 percent stake, First Grafton Corp.

Bruno was a principal of First Grafton until 1992, when his investment in the development group was placed in a trust.

First Grafton dissolved last year when another group purchased the lots.

Bruno's son, Kenneth Bruno, a former lobbyist who represented racing interests, also was a First Grafton homeowner.

Bruno didn't appear to be visibly distressed during Tuesday's brief news conference, although he said he was angered by what he termed "illegal" leaks to the media about the FBI probe.

"I am sharing this because there have been leaks, which I believe are totally illegal ... and rather than have the speculation out there, I believed it was appropriate for me to share generally what is going on," said Bruno.

Bruno said the probe against him won't uncover wrongdoing.

"We haven't done anything wrong."

"I am confident of that," he said adding that "I have filed everything that I have to file," with the legislative ethics committees regarding outside interests.

"My life has been in business and I have always said that I would earn my living outside the Legislature ... people have a right to other interests."

Asked about his business dealings by the Times Union a few months ago, Bruno said he would only disclose such financial information if he became governor.

"Until then, I am obeying the law and I am filing and responsive to the law and I'm going to stay there with that," he said.

"Everything that I do is appropriate and legal and goes by the ethics counsels and everybody else that can take a look at my life."

Bruno said he doesn't believe the inquiry will affect his ability to serve as majority leader -- a post to which he recently was re-elected.

Senate Republicans were apparently in the dark about the FBI probe when they unanimously tapped Bruno to serve another two years as leader.

According to one insider, Bruno informed his colleagues shortly before the news conference Tuesday.

Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

Today, I went down to the local law library, which is in the County Courthouse building, down the road a ways from where I live, because I wanted to go back to the "source", if you will, on this "Enterprise Corruption" law in the State of New York that is under discussion in here ....

I don't know about other states in the union, but in New York State, for a law to "be on the books", there has to be some kind of paper trail that determines how it got there, and it is that "paper trail" that judges are supposed to look at, when rendering decisions on what a law really means.

So, the book I wanted at the law library was the New York State Legislative Annual for the year 1986, which is when this particular law became added to the New York State Penal Law.

Now, 1986 is a significant year in connection with this case of ours, for a lot of reasons, and it is interesting, in retrospect, to look at the juxtaposition of these various "events", to see how they lead us right up to this present moment in time, where we now are, here in this tiny bit of OUR America that is the County of Rensselaer in the alleged corrupt EMPIRE STATE of New York!

Consider for a moment, if you will, in forming your own thoughts about the contents of this thread, these words of the then-DEMOCRATIC Governor of the State of New York in 1986 concerning New York State's "HISTORY" of corruption as it stood right exactly then:

"TEN YEARS AGO, a study by the Joint House-Senate Subcommittee on Investigations estimated the costs of white-collar crime at MORE THAN forty-four BILLION dollars".

"The incidence of white-collar crime has not abated in the last decade; instead, it has spiraled ever-upward as economic crime has become increasingly profitable and sophisticated!"

"The effects of major economic crime can be devastating: THE WHOLE SOCIETY suffers as crimes against business become crimes against consumers."

"GREEDY, WHITE-COLLAR PROFITEERS WILL NOT BE STOPPED until we adopt strong measures to stop them!"

- Governor's Approval memorandum, New York State Legislative Annual -1986, p.236

SO!

According to the Governor of New York State himself, the Hon. Mario Cuomo, at that time, BY 1976, the cost of WHITE-COLLAR crime in just New York State alone was already MORE THAN forty-four BILLION dollars, and it was just spiraling upwards and upwards, with no end in sight, unless, of course, WE, the PEOPLE of the State were to somehow stop it, and how was that to be done?

Now, think on this for a moment, if you will:

WHEN, not if, BUT WHEN you have white-collar crime in a state, any state, to the extent of $44 BILLION, how exactly is that happening?

And by that, what I really mean is WHO IN THE HELL IS NOT LOOKING, or doing their job at preventing this kind of crime, TO THIS MAGNITUDE?

And more to the point, WHY ARE THEY NOT LOOKING, or doing their job of preventing crime of this magnitude from occurring in the first place?

Is a "BLIND EYE" being bought and paid for, here, perhaps?

And if so, HOW can that be countered?

And when the sum of money is so big as was the case in New York State by 1976, $44 BILLION, ABSENT A COMPLETE AND TOTAL TOP-TO-BOTTOM house-cleaning of the whole of government itself, CAN ANYTHING AT ALL BE DONE, because the truth of the matter is that corruption, or crime of this magnitude cannot happen without inside help .....

Rhetorically speaking, if you're a white-collar thief to the tune of $44 BILLION, and you are "operating" in a state like New York State where the politicians allegedly are for sale, and you want to stay in business, HOW MANY CORRUPT POLITICIANS CAN YOU BUY for $44 BILLION to enable you to do so?

And hypothetically speaking, IF YOU DO buy these alleged corrupt politicians, WHICH SERVICES of theirs are you really buying, BESIDES their own "BLIND EYES"?

And so, here is the "backdrop" for this story that I am telling in here of one small group of citizens in the State of New York who chose not to bury their heads in the sand, and pretend that all was right with the world, but, instead, decided to study the law themselves, and to learn how this had all come to pass, this corruption, or crime IN OUR LIVES, that was already by 1976 up to $44 BILLION!

And so ....

"It's time for New York to lead the nation again by bringing integrity and effective solutions back to state government."

This is quite an interesting comment right above here by the newly sworn-in Attorney General of the State of New York ......

Mr. Andrew Cuomo ....

Who is himself the son of the former Governor of the State of New York, Mario Cuomo .....

Who was the Governor of the State of New York .....

In 1991 ....

Who took it upon himself to ALTER the New York State Mined Land Reclamation Law ......

WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC NOTICE OR REVIEW .....

At the behest of the EMPIRE STATE CONCRETE AND AGGREGATE PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION .....

A politically powerful "SPECIAL INTEREST" group in the State of New York ....

TO EXCLUDE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE REVIEW PROCESS .....

OF APPLICATIONS ....

BY ESCAPA MEMBERS ....

TO CONDUCT MINERAL EXTRACTION OPERATIONS ....

IN OR PROXIMATE TO EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

IN VIOLATION OF OUR NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION .....

A move on the part of former-New York State Governor Mario Cuomo .....

In 1991 ....

That went a very long distance towards DESTROYING INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT in the State of New York .....

THE DESTROYED INTEGRITY .....

THAT SON ANDREW .....

NOW NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL .....

SO LOUDLY BEMOANS .....

In the pages of the Albany, New York TIMES UNION article above here from December 31, 2006 ......

WHICH IS WHAT THIS THREAD IS ABOUT .....

IN LARGE PART .....

THE DESTRUCTION OF INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT ....

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

AND THE CRUSHING OF DISSENT .....

BY THOSE WHOM NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW CUOMO WOULD NOW CALL UPON TO BE "WHISTLE-BLOWERS" .....

TO FIGHT CORPORATE FRAUD IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK .....

IS ANDREW CUOMO MOCKING US HERE?

That is the question that is on the minds of the citizens of the State of New York up here in the Albany, New York area .....

Who have been witnessing this DECLINE .....

This INTENTIONAL TRASHING of INTEGRITY in government ......

BY THE "GOVERNMENT" OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK ITSELF ......

BEGINNING BACK IN 1988 .....

WHEN THEN-NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR MARIO CUOMO'S NEW YORK STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STOOD IDLY BY ......

AS A HEALTH OFFICER IN RENSSELAER COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAD HIS PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION DESTROYED .....

ALONG WITH HIS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING .....

AFTER THE RENSSELAER COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL .....

OFFERED REPUBLICAN RENSSELAER COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOHN L. BUONO $80,000 .....

IN THE SPRING OF 1988 .....

IN THE PRESENCE OF A "REPRESENTATIVE" OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ....

TO "GET RID" OF THIS HEALTH OFFICER ....

BECAUSE HE WAS ACTING WITH INTEGRITY .....

AND THEY DID NOT WANT THAT ...

And so .....

"'Pork' reforms touted - Cuomo's steps require grant recipients to reveal links to state lawmakers"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Tuesday, January 23, 2007

ALBANY -- Attorney General Andrew Cuomo on Monday unveiled a new certification process for all state grants, known as member items, before lawmakers can hand them out.

Cuomo's disclosure and accountability program is an effort to crack down on a system that has bred increasing suspicion and criticism because of its susceptibility to conflicts of interest or corruption.

"Today's a different day," Cuomo said Monday.

"We are going to do business in a different way."

The certification requirements call for more reporting from recipients of the "pork-barrel" grants.

Among the things they will have to reveal are connections to lawmakers, and the public purpose of the grants.

Member items go largely to nonprofit organizations that provide some sort of community service.

The system is controlled by the legislative leaders, who can decide which pet projects get funding.

While it reinforces the leaders' power, oversight of how individual members use the grants has been spotty.

Last week Gov. Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders agreed to the reforms, which include the detailing of all budget spending, including pork-barrel grants.

Under Cuomo's reform, his office can block any proposed grant, based on the information the proposed grantee provides, or refuses to.

Disclosure will be required of any business or financial interest between the sponsoring lawmaker and the proposed recipient.

The recipient must also answer four questions to help the attorney general judge its standing, such as whether the recipient has violated state contracts in the past or has felons for officers.

Finally, the recipient must declare if the grant would be used for a public purpose.

The certifications will be necessary for any of the member items to be granted, including those that have not yet been executed from this year's batch of 6,000, totaling $200 million, Cuomo said.

The initiative comes as several lawmakers have been indicted or subjected to criminal investigation over their use of member items in recent years.

Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr. and former Assemblyman Brian M. McLaughlin, both New York City Democrats, were charged in federal indictments with using tens of thousands of dollars in member item grants funneled to nonprofit organizations for personal expenses.

Both men have denied wrongdoing.

Federal investigators are also reviewing the granting of $500,000 by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, to a private company in his district, Troy-based Evident Technologies Inc.

Evident is owned partly by a business associate and friend of Bruno.

The senator has said he welcomes the probe and has not violated any laws.

Cuomo declined to name any particular grants that he finds troubling.

He also would not say whether he thought his predecessor, Spitzer, should have more aggressively monitored member items during his eight-year tenure as attorney general. '

Spitzer became governor this year.

"There have been serious questions raised about member items; it's a recent phenomena," Cuomo said, adding that his initiative follows Spitzer's gubernatorial promise to improve disclosure and ethics in Albany.

The certification process was hailed by some watchdogs as a good step toward improving the process.

"From my time in Albany, I'm not opposed to member items, but I do think the more light that is shined on them, the more likely the public interest is served," said Paul Shechtman, chairman of both the state Ethics Commission and the Temporary State Commission on Lobbying.

"There's a reason there are speed traps on the Thruway," said Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group.

"There has been such a track record on member items and scandals, it's important that someone is paying attention."

The program comes as Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, and Spitzer agree member items should be itemized in state budgets from now on.

On Monday, the Legislature passed a bill calling for spelling out how each dollar in the state budget would be used.

The Senate also calls for eliminating the Public Authority Control Board which is used to screen capital project borrowing.

"The Assembly is supportive of the attorney general's proposals and believes he should apply them to all state contracts," said Charles Carrier, a spokesman for Silver.

In recent months, Assembly Democrats have beefed up their internal oversight of member items.

A Bruno spokesman had no comment.

While most lawmakers want to have grant funds to sprinkle in their district, a few say member items should be a thing of the past.

"I don't think member items are a legitimate form of budgeting," said Assemblyman William Parment, D-Jamestown.

He said if the Legislature declares a program is needed, then groups across the state should get a chance to competitively apply for appropriations.

"One of the reasons we are finding our budgets growing is we are funding things that are desirable but not necessary," he said.

James M. Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

And please pardon my absence in here this morning ....

This is a new thread ....

And I am going slowly in here ....

Getting my thoughts organized ....

So that the thread is comprehensible ....

And educational, as well ....

Or so it is hoped, anyway ....

And of course, that burden is on me to have it be so ....

And so .....

This thread in many ways is an outgrowth of a thread that has been running since April of 2005 over in the judicial section of this forum ....

A thread that began when this federal District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe assigned to this Felix Strevell federal criminal case above here ....

Made a ruling that has severely limited OUR rights as citizens in this state to access OUR courts ....

To seek redress of OUR grievances .....

Against the State of New York and its political subdivisions ....

AND POLITICALLY-CONNECTED PERSONS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

WHO HAVE BEEN GRANTED "PROTECTED PERSON" STATUS .....

By elected officials in the State of New York .....

THROUGH WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "PATRONAGE SYSTEM" UP HERE ....

Where elected officials become PATRONS of those whom they wish to have as their coterie .....

DESPITE OUR CONSTITUTION AND LAWS TO THE CONTRARY .....

And this brings us back around to this subject of "PORK" ....

And political power in the State of New York .....

One more time .....

As I said in my opening statement in here .....

As of January first of this year .....

OUR NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION HAS COME UNDER UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK .....

By those who were recently elected in this State .....

This being primarily former-New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for the purposes of this thread right now .....

Along with now-New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ....

Both of whom are alleged in this thread to be doing an "end-run-around" the provisions of OUR New York State Constitution ....

An EN PASSANT move if you will ....

Where the PAWN is taken ....

By passing it by ....

And in this case ....

That PAWN being taken .....

By Mr. Spitzer ....

Allegedly on behalf of the New York State Business Council .....

IS OUR NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION ....

Which the New York State Business Council views as an IMPEDIMENT to its own goals .....

Of having New York State be the best place in the whole world to do business ....

BECAUSE THERE IS NO REGULATION ....

Which takes us right back to the days of such business luminaries in this state as Jay Gould .....

And what were called the "ROBBER BARONS" ....

And so ...

[Livyjr]

And continuing on ....

With what may very well be a GREAT BIG FLIM-FLAM up here .....

In the State of New York ....

We have ....

"Leaders make government ethics reform deal"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

Last updated: 12:56 p.m., Wednesday, January 24, 2007

ALBANY -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders today announced the components of a new law that merges the ethics and lobbying commissions while setting ironclad gift bans and new penalties for violations.

Standing beside Spitzer at a press conference, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno promised passage of the measures this session.

The legislation calls for creation of a Commission on Public Integrity.

The law will:

End gifts from lobbyists and their clients including travel or lodging expenses except for things of nominal value.

Prohibit gifts from non-lobbyists of more than nominal value if it might appear they're to influence the official.

Close the opportunity for legislative staff members from lobbying the Legislature for two years, effective Dec. 31, 2008.

End the practice of getting paid for speeches.

Outlaw hiring or giving contracts to relatives.

Bar agency heads from becoming a candidate for office unless they resign.

End use of taxpayer funds used for ads for any government official or candidate for elected office local, state or federal.

Spitzer said the legislation includes the biggest reforms in decades, but some government reform groups and minority representatives of the legislators complained that the deal should have been crafted in public or with greater transparency.

New York Public Interest Research Group Legislative Director Blair Horner said he worries that the lobbying commission will be weakened by the merger with the ethics commission.

Spitzer suggested a stronger entity and his aides say Lobbying Commission Executive Director David Grandeau is a front-runner to lead the new commission.

The law does not bring the Legislative Ethics Committee into the comprehensive integrity unity but makes it a commission with nine appointees of the Legislature; four lawmakers and five non-legislative employees, replacing an eight-person body that consists of legislators only.

[Livyjr]

Liv - I hope you will broaden this topic beyond New York.

Good for you, Livyjr.

I do not know how much time you have, but if you do have the time, I feel certain that eventually you ought to consider Snuffy Smith's suggestion to expand this thread beyond New York.

A.B.

"Spitzer prepares to take over after 12 years of Republican rule"

By MARC HUMBERT, Associated Press
Last updated: 11:02 a.m., Saturday, December 30, 2006

ALBANY -- Calling himself "the new CEO of the state," Eliot Spitzer says he has a "sense of excitement and anticipation" as he prepares to take over as New York's 54th governor on New Year's Day.

That doesn't mean there aren't tough times ahead for the man who gained fame by taking on powerful Wall Street interests as the state's hard-charging attorney general, Spitzer told The Associated Press in a wide-ranging interview on the eve of his elevation to New York's top state government job.

"You don't run for an office like this without preparing yourself for both the enormity of it and the difficulty of it, but that doesn't mean you don't break out in a cold sweat sometimes," the millionaire lawyer from New York City told the AP.

"There's an enormous amount to be done, so we'd better put on our body armor," he said.

"The stakes are big and the battles will be tough."

Spitzer, a Democrat, easily beat former state Assembly Republican Minority Leader John Faso Nov. 7 to win the office being vacated by George Pataki, who after three, four-year terms is eyeing a run for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination.

Spitzer faces the same divided state Legislature that the last Democratic governor, Mario Cuomo, and Pataki dealt with -- a Republican-led Senate and a Democratic-controlled state Assembly.

The notoriously gridlocked Legislature in 2004 earned the title of the nation's most dysfunctional.

Spitzer said he believes he can work with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, but he also says he will reach beyond them to rank-and-file lawmakers to move his agenda.

"All elected officials deserve to be heard," Spitzer said.

While there has been speculation Spitzer's ascendancy could lead to the ouster of Bruno or Silver -- or both -- the governor-elect said he won't assist any overthrows in the short term.

"There are no proxy battles planned right now," he said.

"To continue the metaphor, I guess we had our proxy vote on November 7 and we got a new CEO."

"There is a new CEO of the state and I'm going to run the state with my partners."

Nonetheless, Spitzer made it clear he plans to be the senior partner, saying he would "certainly do what a governor is supposed to do, which is to take the helm and say here are the priorities."

Spitzer said the biggest impediment is simply trying to change the status quo given the power of special interests in New York, including those inside and outside government.

"It's not that dissimilar from a corporate setting -- an executive who may not be performing well yet is often very difficult to unseat," he said.

"What I will lay out in the inaugural address on Monday as well as in the State of the State (address on Wednesday) will really focus on the twin arguments that government needs to be changed and the economy needs to be revitalized," he told the AP.

And while Spitzer's campaign slogan was "On day one, everything changes," he said Friday, "You can't pick too many battles, too many overarching objectives."

As part of his grand plan, Spitzer said he would push for new limits on Medicaid spending that already consumes more than $45 billion of the state's $115 billion budget, improve the state's education system and deal with the costs of doing business in New York state by overhauling the workers' compensation and unemployment insurance systems.

He said he will stick to his campaign pledge not to raise taxes.

"We cannot, as a state, afford to raise taxes now because we would lose our competitive position with respect to other states, nations and economies which we're competing with," he said.

Spitzer said he was open to entreaties from county officials that they be allowed to raise cigarette taxes to raise money.

"We'll look at it for the counties, but the state is not raising taxes," he said.

Spitzer was to take the official oath of office shortly before midnight Sunday in a private ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Albany.

A more formal inaugural ceremony, including his formal address, was scheduled for noon outside the Capitol on New Year's Day.

The outdoor ceremony, the state's first, was a contrast to a glitzy show put on by Pataki on New Year's Day 1995 as he filled an Albany sports arena with music, pomp and a celebrity audience that included radio shock jock Howard Stern.

For guests to the Spitzer inauguration, there was going to be plenty of New York's cuisine.

The Anchor Bar was bringing its famous chicken wings from Buffalo, while the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse was offering up its ribs and pulled pork.

There was to be cheesecake from Junior's in Brooklyn, spiedies (skewer-roasted beef cubes) from Lupo's in Binghamton and even the "garbage plate" -- a hot dog or hamburger heaped with home fries, macaroni salad, baked beans and meat sauce -- from Nick Tahou's in Rochester.

Spitzer also planned a 5 p.m. concert at Albany's Times Union Center arena featuring James Taylor and Natalie Merchant.

And once again ....

Good morning, America ....

And the candid world as well ....

Welcome to this thread ....

Which is just beginning ...

And so ....

Might be a bit confusing at first ....

As to what it is that we are talking about in here ....

And where it is that we are going ....

WHICH IS REALLY GOING TO BE DETERMINED, IN LARGE PART, BY WHAT GOES ON IN THE WORLD, ITSELF ....

As time marches on ....

And more specifically ....

WHY?

Why this thread on "PORK" in New York ....

When this is in reality an international forum ....

With people from all over the world and the United States stopping in and contributing ....

Each in his or her own way ....

WHY SHOULD ANYBODY BE INTERESTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CORRUPT EMPIRE OF NEW YORK ....

When they do not live here .....

And don't intend to live here ....

And have no family or property or loved ones in this CORRUPT EMPIRE ....

And for that answer ....

I would go right up to this article above here from the Albany, New York TIMES UNION ....

Where newly-elected New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer makes this following statement, to wit:

"We cannot, as a state, afford to raise taxes now because we would lose our competitive position with respect to other states, nations and economies which we're competing with," he said.

WITH RESPECT TO OTHER STATES, NATIONS AND ECONOMIES WHICH WE'RE COMPETING WITH ......

To which I say, "HHHHhhhhhmmmmmm, ah, I see ...."

Other STATES .....

That New York State is competing with ....

WOULD BE THOSE STATES .....

WHERE YOU PEOPLE ....

WhO DON'T LIVE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK .....

HAPPEN TO LIVE ....

AND WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT ....

AND WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT .....

NEW YORK STATE, at least according to newly-elected governor Eliot Spitzer ....

IS COMPETING WITH YOUR STATE ....

AND THAT HAS IMPLICATIONS AND RAMIFICATIONS FOR US BOTH ....

AGAIN ....

WHETHER WE KNOW ABOUT IT ....

OR NOT ....

AND WHEN YOU FACTOR IN ELIOT SPITZER'S STATEMENT THAT NEW YORK STATE IS COMPETING AGAINST OTHER NATIONS AS WELL ....

WHICH CARRIES WITH IT THE IMPLICATION THAT NEW YORK STATE IS A "STAND-ALONE NATION" .....

NOT A PART OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ....

BUT IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH THE OTHER STATES OF THE UNITED STATES .....

Well .....

Let's just say that to this older American .....

THERE ARE SOME RED FLAGS BEING RAISED HERE .....

All over the place, actually .....

WITH RESPECT TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT ....

BOTH HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

AND IN THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL .....

And it is for this reason ....

THIS ALLEGED COMPETITION BETWEEN THE CORRUPT EMPIRE OF NEW YORK ....

AND THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ....

AS WELL AS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ....

That this thread about New York ....

Makes its way into this particular forum .....

And so .....

[Livyjr]

Today, I went down to the local law library, which is in the County Courthouse building, down the road a ways from where I live, because I wanted to go back to the "source", if you will, on this "Enterprise Corruption" law in the State of New York that is under discussion in here ....

I don't know about other states in the union, but in New York State, for a law to "be on the books", there has to be some kind of paper trail that determines how it got there, and it is that "paper trail" that judges are supposed to look at, when rendering decisions on what a law really means.

So, the book I wanted at the law library was the New York State Legislative Annual for the year 1986, which is when this particular law became added to the New York State Penal Law.

Now, 1986 is a significant year in connection with this case of ours, for a lot of reasons, and it is interesting, in retrospect, to look at the juxtaposition of these various "events", to see how they lead us right up to this present moment in time, where we now are, here in this tiny bit of OUR America that is the County of Rensselaer in the alleged corrupt EMPIRE STATE of New York!

Consider for a moment, if you will, in forming your own thoughts about the contents of this thread, these words of the then-DEMOCRATIC Governor of the State of New York in 1986 concerning New York State's "HISTORY" of corruption as it stood right exactly then:

"TEN YEARS AGO, a study by the Joint House-Senate Subcommittee on Investigations estimated the costs of white-collar crime at MORE THAN forty-four BILLION dollars".

"The incidence of white-collar crime has not abated in the last decade; instead, it has spiraled ever-upward as economic crime has become increasingly profitable and sophisticated!"

"The effects of major economic crime can be devastating: THE WHOLE SOCIETY suffers as crimes against business become crimes against consumers."

"GREEDY, WHITE-COLLAR PROFITEERS WILL NOT BE STOPPED until we adopt strong measures to stop them!"

- Governor's Approval memorandum, New York State Legislative Annual -1986, p.236

SO!

According to the Governor of New York State himself, the Hon. Mario Cuomo, at that time, BY 1976, the cost of WHITE-COLLAR crime in just New York State alone was already MORE THAN forty-four BILLION dollars, and it was just spiraling upwards and upwards, with no end in sight, unless, of course, WE, the PEOPLE of the State were to somehow stop it, and how was that to be done?

Now, think on this for a moment, if you will:

WHEN, not if, BUT WHEN you have white-collar crime in a state, any state, to the extent of $44 BILLION, how exactly is that happening?

And by that, what I really mean is WHO IN THE HELL IS NOT LOOKING, or doing their job at preventing this kind of crime, TO THIS MAGNITUDE?

And more to the point, WHY ARE THEY NOT LOOKING, or doing their job of preventing crime of this magnitude from occurring in the first place?

Is a "BLIND EYE" being bought and paid for, here, perhaps?

And if so, HOW can that be countered?

And when the sum of money is so big as was the case in New York State by 1976, $44 BILLION, ABSENT A COMPLETE AND TOTAL TOP-TO-BOTTOM house-cleaning of the whole of government itself, CAN ANYTHING AT ALL BE DONE, because the truth of the matter is that corruption, or crime of this magnitude cannot happen without inside help .....

Rhetorically speaking, if you're a white-collar thief to the tune of $44 BILLION, and you are "operating" in a state like New York State where the politicians allegedly are for sale, and you want to stay in business, HOW MANY CORRUPT POLITICIANS CAN YOU BUY for $44 BILLION to enable you to do so?

And hypothetically speaking, IF YOU DO buy these alleged corrupt politicians, WHICH SERVICES of theirs are you really buying, BESIDES their own "BLIND EYES"?

And so, here is the "backdrop" for this story that I am telling in here of one small group of citizens in the State of New York who chose not to bury their heads in the sand, and pretend that all was right with the world, but, instead, decided to study the law themselves, and to learn how this had all come to pass, this corruption, or crime IN OUR LIVES, that was already by 1976 up to $44 BILLION!

And so ....

And setting some GROUND RULES in here .....

FOR MYSELF ....

Just so you know ....

I myself am a "citizen" of the State of New York ....

Having been born here some sixty years ago, now ......

And so .....

When it comes to citizenship responsibilities .....

MINE ARE DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK .....

And so .....

I do not make "value judgments" about what is going on in any other state of the United States in here ......

Because I am not a citizen of any of those other states ....

And so, have no basis or "STANDING" to comment or criticize .....

Which is why I am refraining at this time from talking about "PORK" in any other state ....

BECAUSE BY THE VALUES OF THE CITIZENS OF THOSE STATES ....

IT MIGHT NOT BE ....

And so be that .....

THAT IS THEIR RIGHT .....

And so .....

AND LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR AT THIS TIME .....

THAT I AM NOT A "CONSPIRACY THEORIST" ....

NOR AM I SUBJECT TO PARANOID DELUSIONS ....

"'THEY' ARE OUT TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD ..."

To the contrary ....

When I talk about CORRUPTION in the State of New York .....

I AM GOING TO THE SOURCE ....

WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE STATE, ITSELF ....

Such as this BILL MESSAGE from then-New York State Governor Mario Cuomo above here in 1986 .....

And to further "flesh that out" .....

THE ALLEGATION THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS A PROBLEM WITH CORRUPTION .....

Let us go ....

For the moment .....

To ARTICLE 460 ....

Of the New York State Penal Law ....

Which is entitled ENTERPRISE CORRUPTION ...

That ARTICLE OF LAW being a part of TITLE X of the New York State Penal Law ....

Entitled ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL ACT ....

And the relevant part of that state law which pertains directly to this discussion in here ....

Is as follows:

S 460.00 Legislative findings.

The legislature (of the State of New York) finds and determines as follows:

Organized crime in New York state involves highly sophisticated, complex and widespread forms of criminal activity.

The diversified illegal conduct engaged in by organized crime, rooted in the illegal use of force, fraud, and corruption, constitutes a major drain upon the state's economy, costs citizens and businesses of the state billions of dollars each year, and threatens the peace, security and general welfare of the people of the state.

Organized crime continues to expand its corrosive influence in the state through illegal enterprises engaged in such criminal endeavors as the theft and fencing of property, the importation and distribution of narcotics and other dangerous drugs, arson for profit, hijacking, labor racketeering, loansharking, extortion and bribery, the illegal disposal of hazardous wastes, syndicated gambling, trafficking in stolen securities, insurance and investment frauds, and other forms of economic and social exploitation.[/size]

The money and power derived by organized crime through its illegal enterprises and endeavors is increasingly being used to infiltrate and corrupt businesses, unions and other legitimate enterprises and to corrupt our democratic processes.

end quotes

SO!

THE MONEY AND POWER OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN NEW YORK STATE IS BEING USED TO CORRUPT OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES HERE IN NEW YORK STATE!

WHICH IS ONE BIG PART OF WHY THIS THREAD IS RUNNING IN HERE ....

And that statement by the New York State Legislature about OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK BEING CORRUPTED then leads us to this following question:

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BY ITS OWN LAWS, CAN "GOVERMENT" ITSELF BE CONSIDERED AN ENTERPRISE THAT CAN BE "CORRUPT"?

And for the purposes of this thread ....

That is a good and necessary question ....

SO ....

Let's find the answer, and quickly, as time is of the essence here!

From a quick perusal of S 460.10 of the New York State Penal Law, we have as follows from the "Definitions":

The following definitions are applicable to this article.

2. "Enterprise" means either an enterprise as defined in subdivision one of section 175.00 of this chapter or criminal enterprise as defined in subdivision three of this section.

And going over to Section 175 of the New York State Penal Law, we have:

ARTICLE 175 OFFENSES INVOLVING FALSE WRITTEN STATEMENTS

S 175.00 Definitions of terms.

The following definitions are applicable to this article:

1. "Enterprise" means any entity of one or more persons, corporate or otherwise, public or private, engaged in business, commercial, professional, industrial, eleemosynary, social, political or governmental activity.

SO ....

IF an "enterprise" in the State of New York means "any entity" of one or more persons, engaged in "POLITICAL or GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITY", it would certainly appear that that answer is YES .....

And so .....

GROUND ZERO ....

In this discussion on "GOVERNMENT PORK" ....

HERE IN THE CORRUPT EMPIRE OF NEW YORK ....

WHICH IS COMPETING WITH YOUR STATE, OUT THERE ....

AND YOUR ECONOMY ...

WHETHER YOU KNOW ABOUT IT ....

OR NOT ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) considers 'earmark' to be an ambiguous and neutral term, and prefer to define 'pork' as "a line-item in an appropriations bill that designates tax dollars for a specific purpose in circumvention of established budgetary procedures".

And there is where we are in this thread .....

For those of you who might be just stopping by here for the first time ....

Wondering what it is that this thread is all about ....

.....IN CIRCUMVENTION OF ESTABLISHED BUDGETARY PROCEDURES .....

"PORK" .....

IS POWER .....

"This is what the Constitution requires ..."

"But this is what we are going to do, instead ..."

"And nobody can stop us ..."

WHICH IS TRUE .....

At least up here in the State of New York ....

Where citizen access to what should be OUR court system .....

Is being stripped from us in a variety of ways ....

All of which have us "OUTSIDE" the "SYSTEM" ....

When we are supposed to be controlling the "SYSTEM", instead .....

THROUGH THE ENFORCEMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTION .....

IN THOSE SAME COURTS OF LAW .....

And so .....

[Livyjr]

"PORK" is a STATE OF MIND .....

"I AM BEYOND THE LAW ..."

"I CAN DO WHATEVER I PLEASE ..."

"NOBODY CAN TOUCH ME ..."

"I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ..."

"I AM BEYOND THE LAW ..."

And so it is ....

Here in the CORRUPT EMPIRE of New York ....

"Feeding off taxpayers no crime, lawyer says - Cronyism, big spending called usual government practice at Strevell trial"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Thursday, January 18, 2007

ALBANY -- A defense lawyer for the Rensselaer County entrepreneur whose organization got more than $1 million in member item grants directed by Sen. Joseph L. Bruno is arguing in federal court that dishonesty isn't necessarily a federal offense.

William P. Fanciullo, lawyer for J. Felix Strevell, the former director of the now-defunct Institute for Entrepreneurship, also said that Strevell's actions, including putting relatives on the state payroll, were normal practices in government.

Fanciullo asserted that the U.S. attorney's case against Strevell is full of allegations that should not be classified as federal crimes.

Strevell is charged with nine counts of mail fraud and six counts of wire fraud.

The case before U.S. District Court Justice Gary L. Sharpe centers on Strevell's lavish spending on himself and on parties that honored lawmakers who helped him get public money.

Among its funding sources, the institute received two $500,000 discretionary grants, known as member items, through Bruno in 1999 and 2001.

Strevell allegedly misused some of the $8 million in mostly taxpayer funds raised by the institute during his reign from 1998 to 2001, when he and his brother, Chauncey, the former chief operating officer, abruptly quit.

While at the institute, Strevell hired friends, relatives of powerful Republicans, his daughter and his daughter's boyfriend.

He also used institute funds to purchase clothing and trips for himself and family members.

Prosecutors say Strevell, a former state bureaucrat, manipulated the system to set up the nonprofit institute as an offshoot of state government.

He worked to improperly enrich himself and his family, the indictment says, receiving a base salary of $225,000 plus $24,000 for a housing stipend, trips for family members and merchandise for his personal use, including a $64,000 recreational vehicle.

Strevell also allegedly doctored the record of a board vote that resulted in his pay rising by $95,000.

Fanciullo said Strevell's management of the institute followed normal and accepted practices of government, including the hiring of kin, and that the salary vote was legitimate.

.....IN CIRCUMVENTION OF ESTABLISHED BUDGETARY PROCEDURES .....

And as of this morning .....

The "PORK-O-CRACY" in the State of New York appears to be quite alive .....

And doing very well for itself ....

As it feels it should ....

After all ....

PUBLIC SERVICE ....

SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT SERVING THE PUBLIC ...

RATHER ...

IT IS ABOUT GETTING INTO THE PUBLIC'S PANTS POCKETS ....

AND LIVING HERE ....

Making your own life better ...

At their expense ...

Like rats in a farmer's corn crib ....

Or weevils in the flour ....

And so ....

"Lifetime perk draws scrutiny - Lawmaker says members of state boards may have erred in giving themselves health coverage benefit"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Friday, January 26, 2007

ALBANY -- Board members of two state agencies charged with helping create affordable housing in New York voted last year to use state funds to give themselves and their spouses lifetime health insurance, according to board members.

The six-member Housing Finance Agency and the eight-member New York State Mortgage Association boards gave themselves the benefits as a payback for service, said former Sen. Howard C. Nolan, an appointee of the comptroller's office to the SONYMA board.

He said the benefit seemed reasonable given the unpaid service board members provide the state, and the need to "attract quality people."

However, a lawmaker who oversees public authorities said the benefit may be an illegal bonus for board members who are not supposed to be compensated.

"It's an apparent violation of the laws creating SONYMA which do not permit compensation," said Assembly Corporations Committee Chairman Richard Brodsky, D-White Plains.

Brodsky said he was unaware of the health benefit vote until a reporter told him about it this week.

He promised his committee will be "looking at it very seriously."

Priscilla Alomodovar, Gov. Eliot Spitzer's choice to lead the housing agencies, said she is looking into the legal basis upon which the boards of the agencies gave themselves the health care benefits.

The board yesterday appointed her to lead the agencies.

She said she may ask the boards to rescind their resolutions.

No money had been paid on premiums yet, she said.

Nolan said the boards voted for lifetime health insurance.

It would be comparable to health coverage under the Empire Plan, which covers state employees, but it will be for whatever plan the retired member chooses, according to Leonard Weinstock, another SONYMA member who voted for the benefit.

Only board members with a decade of service are eligible, Nolan and Weinstock said.

SONYMA will pick up the cost.

"A lot of people won't serve unless they get a touch of the hat," said Nolan, who represented Albany County in the Senate.

He started on the SONYMA board in 1995, just after leaving the Senate and four years after Gov. Mario Cuomo ended stipends for board members for all the public authorities and state agency boards amid a recession and budget crisis.

Nolan sharply criticized Cuomo's act.

"It meant almost nothing to the budget," Nolan said, saying he voted against Cuomo's "showboating."

Nolan estimated the cost of the coverage at $3,000 annually, although he noted that his real estate company, which helps manage two shopping plazas he owns, provides its employees coverage at $365 a month for individuals and $920 a month for families.

Nolan, 74, added that his wife has health insurance through her employer and probably won't retire for a decade.

The SONYMA board includes ex-officio members of government, including the tax commissioner and budget director, who apparently aren't eligible for the health coverage.

Andrew Eristoff, a former tax commissioner, said he delegated the SONYMA board work to an aide, but recalled seeking guidance from Gov. George Pataki's staff on what to do on the health care benefit vote.

"It was very controversial," Eristoff said.

"I was uncomfortable with some of the proposals."

"We ended up doing what the governor's office recommended."

"The issue was brewing for a while."

"As I recall things were amended to be a lot more palatable."

Weinstock, a retired lawyer serving as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's designee, said the idea first came up in late 2002.

It was studied and officially voted on in late 2005 with a confirming resolution last year.

The benefit, he said, calls for individuals upon retirement to apply for their own insurance privately and be reimbursed by SONYMA because the Empire plan can't be used by the retirees.

He said lawyers for SONYMA deemed it "appropriate."

"If people put in the time and they perform their duties diligently ... there is no reason why the directors who meet the benchmarks -- a minimum of 10 years of service -- should not get health benefits no different from what they received while they were active members of the board," he said.

In 1998, the Legislature provided health benefits for active board members, he said.

SONYMA Chairman Joseph Strasberg did not return calls.

Said Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, who last year tried to stop Strasberg's reappointment as a gubernatorial designee because he serves as a lobbyist for the rental and development industry, said the benefit sounds like a very valuable perk.

"I have to say I'm fairly shocked," she said.

"It's the first I've heard of this."

"It leads me to the question how many of these other boards is this going on at."

A spokesman for the Division of Budget, whose director had a vote in the matter, said the benefit for HFA and SONYMA board members is a matter best discussed with those boards.

James M. Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

Liv - I hope you will broaden this topic beyond New York.

I do not know how much time you have, but if you do have the time, I feel certain that eventually you ought to consider Snuffy Smith's suggestion to expand this thread beyond New York.

A.B.

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) considers 'earmark' to be an ambiguous and neutral term, and prefer to define 'pork' as "a line-item in an appropriations bill that designates tax dollars for a specific purpose in circumvention of established budgetary procedures".

Database: federally funded projects - Cutting pork

According to congressional aides, these are some of the local projects that likely will not be funded this year because Congress isn't expected to authorize the spending:

# $2.5 million for cancer treatment at University of Rochester Medical Center.
# $2 million the Monroe County Crime Lab.
# $1 million for Monroe County Water Authority.
# $1 million for ramp and safety improvements at the Greater Rochester International Airport.
# $500,000 for expansion of emergency room at Rochester General Hospital.
# $400,000 for Rochester Children's Zone.
# $400,000 for emergency room renovations at Unity Hospital (formerly Park Ridge Hospital).

No, not initially, anyway, Snuf ....

For that would simply dilute and overwhelm at the same time .....

I'm a slow thinker, actually .....

Not prone to making hasty decisions ....

As a rule .....

And so .....

I have been giving a lot of thought to Snuffysmith's two posts above .....

As well as Mr. A.B.'s sentiments .....

And I have just realized, today ....

That in this thread .....

Which is really about CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, as much as anything .....

We simply cannot compare what is called "PORK" ....

At the federal level ....

To what is called "PORK in NEW YORK" .....

In this thread .....

BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SETS OF RELATIONSHIPS .....

And OUR rights as American citizens are indeed tied up in both of those relationships ....

BUT DIRECTLY IN ONE ....

That being the relationship between US ....

And OUR "states" ......

Mr. A.B. and the state of Ohio ......

jeffmoskin and the state of California ....

Myself and the state of New York ....

AND INDIRECTLY IN THE OTHER .....

That being in the relationship ....

OF OUR INDIVIDUAL STATES ....

WHICH ARE US, THE CITIZENS OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL STATES ....

WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT .....

OF OUR UNION ....

THAT BEING THE "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" .....

And so ......

In discussing what would be called "FEDERAL PORK" .....

It is my thought right now .....

THAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL A DIFFERENT SET OF VALUES .....

Than come into play .....

When the "PORK" is at the state level .....

And this is because OUR RIGHTS as individuals in OUR home states ....

ARE DETERMINED BY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL STATES .....

OR MORE TO THE POINT ....

HOW OUR INDIVIDUAL STATES THEMSELVES .....

BY AND THROUGH THEIR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS .....

MIGHT VIEW THAT RELATIONSHIP .....

WITH US ....

THE CITIZENS OF THE SEPARATE STATES ....

And so ....

I wanted to get that written down in here ....

Even though it might be an incomplete thought .....

As of yet ....

Because once written down in here ....

It is a thought expressed ...

That can then be further developed ....

With facts and examples ....

To flesh it all out ....

And make it comprehensible ....

SINCE WE ARE ON THE SEARCH IN HERE FOR COMMON GROUND .....

And above all ....

COMMON SENSE ....

Which has to be grounded in some reality .....

That does not constantly shift ....

LIKE SAND ....

IN THE DESERT ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

And as of this morning .....

The "PORK-O-CRACY" in the State of New York appears to be quite alive .....

And doing very well for itself ....

As it feels it should ....

After all ....

PUBLIC SERVICE ....

SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT SERVING THE PUBLIC ...

RATHER ...

IT IS ABOUT GETTING INTO THE PUBLIC'S PANTS POCKETS ....

AND LIVING HERE ....

Making your own life better ...

At their expense ...

Like rats in a farmer's corn crib ....

Or weevils in the flour ....

And so ....

There's something happening here ....

What it is ain't exactly clear ....

There's a man with a gun over there ....

TELLING ME I'VE GOT TO BEWARE ...

And here ....

I mean the fact ....

That OUR state and federal CONSTITUTIONS ....

ARE ACTUALLY LAWS .....

ORGANIC LAWS .....

That bind OUR governments .....

State and federal, as well as local ....

To certain STANDARDS OF CONDUCT .....

ON BEHALF OF US ....

The PEOPLE of OUR America .....

"Spitzer names Pennsylvania official upstate development czar"

Associated Press

Last updated: 1:42 p.m., Sunday, January 21, 2007

ALBANY -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer has tapped an economic development official from Pennsylvania to head a new Buffalo office that will spearhead efforts to revive the upstate New York economy.

Gundersen's job is "pure dedication to the upstate economy," Spitzer said, and he will have the power and resources to reverse the state's loss of young workers and the frustration of businesses facing high taxes and other competitive disadvantages.

And reporting in this morning ....

From the PORK-O-CRACY of New York ....

Where young people with any sense at all ....

Get out while they can .....

With the advice of older people like me ....

Telling them ....

That until THE PEOPLE of the State of New York State ....

WAKE UP ...

AND COME TO THEIR SENSES ....

And finally clean out the putrid, politically-inbred mess that resides down there in the HALLS OF POWER in Albany, New York ....

The GOVERNOR'S OFFICE .....

THE STATE ASSEMBLY ....

AND THE STATE SENATE .....

ALL OF WHICH ARE INHABITED BY PETULANT CHILDREN ....

This is not the place to try and make a life ....

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STABLE OR COMPETENT OR HONEST GOVERNMENT UP HERE ....

WHICH WILL IMPACT ADVERSELY ON THEM .....

ALWAYS HAVING THE HAND OF THE "STATE" IN THEIR POCKET ....

BLEEDING THEM ....

WHILE PROVIDING NO PROTECTION ....

FOR THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING ....

And so ...

"A showdown looming"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Saturday, January 27, 2007

Assembly Democrats vented their anger Friday over a screening panel's decision to exclude their colleagues from a list of eligible state comptroller candidates and said they're giving serious thought to breaking ranks with Gov. Eliot Spitzer over the job.

In what could become a battle between the state's top two Democrats, Assembly members said they felt "rolled" by the three-member panel and, more specifically, by Spitzer himself.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, worked the phones, trying to gauge whether there is support in his conference for ignoring the panel's list and tapping a legislator to be comptroller, which has been his preference all along.

A Spitzer aide said Silver and Spitzer spoke by phone, and described the call as "cordial," although the speaker did register his "frustration" over the panel's decision.

Silver has said the panel did not fulfill its duty because it recommended three rather than five candidates, which was its original charge.

Spitzer on Friday told The New York Times he expected the Legislature to "pick among the three," adding:

"That's the way it should be."

Several Assembly members said they received calls Friday from top Spitzer aides who insisted the governor did nothing to influence the panel's decision.

But the lawmakers remained unconvinced, especially given Spitzer's clear preference for someone from outside the Legislature to fill the office vacated by former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

Hevesi resigned last year after pleading guilty to a felony fraud charge related to his use of public employees as aides to his wife.

"People are angry," said Assemblyman Keith Wright, D-Harlem.

"I know it's a cold day, but you can see steam coming out of people's ears."

The state constitution gives the Legislature, not the governor, the power to fill the vacancy in the comptroller's office.

But Assembly Democrats could have difficulty reaching a consensus if they try to appoint one of their own.

Five legislators interviewed for the job last week.

One, Alexander "Pete" Grannis, a Manhattan Democrat, was tapped by Spitzer for Environmental Conservation commissioner.

But at least three of the four others -- Thomas DiNapoli, of Great Neck; Richard Brodsky, of Westchester; and Joseph Morelle, of Rochester -- said they still consider themselves in the running.

The fourth, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, D-Brooklyn, did not return a call for comment.

"It's not over yet," DiNapoli said.

"Tuesday is going to be a real soul-searching day for the conference."

"It's hard to predict where it ends up, but I don't think it's by any means a settled question as to who's going to emerge."

It will take 107 votes of the 212-seat Legislature to elect the next comptroller.

Silver has 107 members, including Grannis.

Assemblyman John Lavelle, D-Staten Island, died Wednesday following a stroke.

It's likely Silver will have to seek support from outside his conference -- either from the Assembly Republican minority or the Senate -- if he wants to buck Spitzer.

Brodsky said the Assembly members' chances with the screening panel were low because of the conventional wisdom that the Legislature is a dysfunctional mess, a view Spitzer perpetuated with pledges to "clean up" Albany.

"None of this would have happened if we weren't swimming in an ocean in which we're viewed in the most unhealthy way," Brodsky said.

Given the possibility that the Assembly Democrats won't be able to agree on one of their own to be comptroller, they may end up picking from among the three candidates recommended Thursday by the panel.

Assembly members gave the worst chances to William Mulrow, a Bronxville financier who lost the 2002 Democratic primary for the comptroller's office to Hevesi.

Mulrow is viewed as a friend of Spitzer's, and thus is not viewed kindly at this moment by Assembly Democrats.

The selection of New York City Finance Commissioner Martha Stark would fill all four of the state's top elected posts with New York City residents -- something upstate legislators might dislike.

Some speculated Stark would be championed by the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus because she is the only African-American on the short list.

But Assemblyman Darryl Towns, D-Brooklyn, the caucus' new chairman, said the group "right now is standing with the conference."

"We're waiting to get together and make a determination on what we're going to do," Towns said.

"We had a process, and things have changed."

"The process yielded questionable results."

"Now we need to come back together and determine where we're going."

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman could, by default, emerge as a consensus candidate.

He impressed a number of lawmakers with his interview last week, although he is virtually unknown outside his home county and is thus seen as unlikely to win in the 2010 statewide election.

The fight over the comptroller's office comes as Spitzer prepares to release his first executive budget Wednesday, and is pledging to cut Medicaid costs.

This sets him on a collision course with a number of powerful special interests, particularly the healthcare workers union SEIU/1199, which has strong allies in the Legislature.

Adding to Spitzer's troubles with the Legislature is a Feb. 6 special election he forced on Long Island that could affect the balance of power in the GOP-controlled state Senate.

"People are angrier right now than I ever remember them being at (former Republican Gov.) George Pataki," said one Assembly Democrat who asked to remain anonymous.

"Right now, they're acting like they'd rather screw this guy back more than anything else in the world."

Benjamin can be reached at 454-5081 or by e-mail at ebenjamin@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

Anyhow, I feel certain this thread will be a success.

A.B.

"A showdown looming"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Saturday, January 27, 2007

Assembly Democrats vented their anger Friday over a screening panel's decision to exclude their colleagues from a list of eligible state comptroller candidates and said they're giving serious thought to breaking ranks with Gov. Eliot Spitzer over the job.

In what could become a battle between the state's top two Democrats, Assembly members said they felt "rolled" by the three-member panel and, more specifically, by Spitzer himself.

Brodsky said the Assembly members' chances with the screening panel were low because of the conventional wisdom that the Legislature is a dysfunctional mess, a view Spitzer perpetuated with pledges to "clean up" Albany.

"None of this would have happened if we weren't swimming in an ocean in which we're viewed in the most unhealthy way," Brodsky said.

"Lifetime perk draws scrutiny - Lawmaker says members of state boards may have erred in giving themselves health coverage benefit"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Friday, January 26, 2007

ALBANY -- Board members of two state agencies charged with helping create affordable housing in New York voted last year to use state funds to give themselves and their spouses lifetime health insurance, according to board members.

The six-member Housing Finance Agency and the eight-member New York State Mortgage Association boards gave themselves the benefits as a payback for service, said former Sen. Howard C. Nolan, an appointee of the comptroller's office to the SONYMA board.

He said the benefit seemed reasonable given the unpaid service board members provide the state, and the need to "attract quality people."

"A lot of people won't serve unless they get a touch of the hat," said Nolan, who represented Albany County in the Senate.

"Spitzer prepares to take over after 12 years of Republican rule"

By MARC HUMBERT, Associated Press
Last updated: 11:02 a.m., Saturday, December 30, 2006

ALBANY -- Calling himself "the new CEO of the state," Eliot Spitzer says he has a "sense of excitement and anticipation" as he prepares to take over as New York's 54th governor on New Year's Day.

Spitzer faces the same divided state Legislature that the last Democratic governor, Mario Cuomo, and Pataki dealt with -- a Republican-led Senate and a Democratic-controlled state Assembly.

The notoriously gridlocked Legislature in 2004 earned the title of the nation's most dysfunctional.

While there has been speculation Spitzer's ascendancy could lead to the ouster of Bruno or Silver -- or both -- the governor-elect said he won't assist any overthrows in the short term.

"There is a new CEO of the state and I'm going to run the state with my partners."

Nonetheless, Spitzer made it clear he plans to be the senior partner, saying he would "certainly do what a governor is supposed to do, which is to take the helm and say here are the priorities."

Spitzer said the biggest impediment is simply trying to change the status quo given the power of special interests in New York, including those inside and outside government.

For many years now ....

We, the people who reside up here in the State of New York ....

Have been forced to watch this CHARADE that goes on down there in Albany, New York .....

The CHARADE that calls itself ....

MOCKINGLY ....

And CONDESCENDINGLY ....

OUR state government up here ....

AND IT IS INDEED A MOCKERY ....

Ranking as one of the most corrupt and inept governments in the United States of America ....

If not the world ....

And so ....

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT .....

Is the thought that is on the minds of many of us up here in this CORRUPT PORK-O-CRATIC EMPIRE .....

Where ....

As former New York State Senator Howard C. Nolan ....

Who represented Albany County in the New York State Senate .....

SO APTLY PUT IT ....

"A lot of people won't serve unless they get a touch of the hat" ......

Which "practice" former State Senator Nolan says ....

Fulfills the need

To "attract quality people" .....

And of course .....

THAT IS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE .....

Which for many, many years up here ....

HAS BEEN THE ONLY PERSPECTIVE THAT GETS A VOICE PUT TO IT .....

And so ....

WHAT TO DO?

And the answer to that question is elusive, actually ....

Which brings me to Mr. A.B.'s statement above here ....

Concerning whether or not this thread might be what Mr. A.B. calls a "success" ....

I give a lot of thought to that, actually ....

When I come in here to this forum .....

Not the thought of "success", so much .....

Because I don't think in that term myself, when I start a thread .....

But more in the terms of "BEING PRODUCTIVE" in here ....

Which means not wasting my time ....

BY WASTING YOUR TIME ....

With things that are fleeting ....

Or transient ....

Or immaterial to YOUR LIFE ....

Just because they might be an issue in mine .....

And so .....

JUDGEMENT .....

Which means MEASURING ONE'S WORDS ....

So as to not repel readers away from what is being discussed herein .....

And that is a balancing act, as I see it .....

Out here in real life ....

If there is such a thing, anymore ....

In this day and age of "REALITY TV" ....

I am a real person ....

With the range of emotions and such that seem to encumber us down here on this earth of OURS ...

While we are here ....

And I have been here in the State of New York ....

Since my birth in 1946 ....

So that by now ....

Having traveled a bit ....

And having seen how things go in other parts of the United States of America ....

I believe that I have a basis of comparison in here .....

Between other states ....

And New York State ....

THAT FAVORS THOSE OTHER STATES GREATLY ....

OVER NEW YORK STATE .....

And to be very truthful ....

Out there in real life ....

I really do counsel young people to GET THE HELL OUT OF NEW YORK STATE ....

BECAUSE IT IS A CORRUPT ****-HOLE .....

And that is not going to change anytime soon ....

SINCE THE CAUSE OF THAT CORRUPTION ....

REMAINS FIRMLY ENTRENCHED DOWN THERE IN ALBANY .....

Despite this last election up here .....

Which simply re-arranged some of the seating arrangement of the "PLAYAHS" ....

As they are called by the wags in the know up here .....

And so ...

[Livyjr]

Good morning, America .....

And the candid world, as well ....

My name is Livyjr ....

And way back when ....

In the opening days of this forum .....

Right after the November 2004 elections, to be exact ....

I was reading a book entitled The Power of Many by Christian Crumlish ....

Who himself had experience with the use of the internet as a real professional "tool" for communications among separate and disparate groups of people in the world during the Dean Campaign ....

And one of the many points that he made to me in that book ....

Was the level of difficulty that the Dean campaign had in translating communications on the internet ....

INTO ACTION ....

Out there in the REAL WORLD ....

And so .....

In his book The Power of Many .....

The author, Christian Crumlish, who was involved with the Dean campaign in the run-up to the 2004 presidential elections ....

Here in OUR America ....

Talked about the difficulties the Dean campaign encountered in trying to translate communications over the internet .....

Which reaches only a limited number of people here in America ....

As does any media output ....

Into some kind of positive action out there in the real world ....

Where all of us actually live our lives ....

And in one section of the book .....

He describes having DEANIACS out in California writing letters to potential voters in Iowa .....

Telling those potential voters in Iowa ....

Why those people in California liked Howard Dean ....

And therefore ....

Why those potential voters in Iowa should like Howard Dean, as well .....

And not surprisingly .....

THAT EFFORT DID NOT SUCCEED ....

And being a country person myself ....

I could just picture in my mind ....

Some Iowa hog farmer .....

Going out to his mailbox ....

And finding therein a letter to him .....

With a California return address on it .....

And upon opening it .....

Finding a message therein ....

To the effect of "HEY, DUDE, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW ME, BUT I THINK HOWARD DEAN IS JUST THE GINCHIEST AND HE'S REAL COOL, TOO, HE KNOWS WHEN THE SURF IS UP, AND HE'S NOT AFRAID TO HANG TEN, AND HE LIKES RAP, AND EMINEM, AND HE HAS RAPPORT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I THINK HE WOULD MAKE A REAL GOOD PRESIDENT, SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO VOTE FOR HIM AND THEN EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT IN AMERICA ..."

And there the Iowa hog farmer would be ......

Holding that letter and envelope in his calloused hands .....

Turning it over and over .....

Looking at the words .....

Looking at the return address .....

Maybe scratching his head .....

Wondering what the "ginchiest" really is ....

And how to actually measure that .....

And wondering how being the "ginchiest" .....

Makes someone into a good president for America ....

Just because he likes rap .....

And so .....

COMMUNICATIONS ......

America is a very big place ....

Over three thousand miles across .....

With a band of people concentrated on the east coast .....

With their concerns and values .....

And another band of people concentrated on the west coast .....

Again with their own values and concerns ....

And then there are the people in between .....

Another band on the east side of the Missippi River ....

And on the west side as well ....

WITH VALUES AND CONCERNS THAT ARE IMPOSED UPON THEM ....

BY CLIMATE ....

AND TERRAIN ....

And modes and methods of making a living ....

That differ from how people in other parts of the country live .....

And so .....

Measuring "success" in computer forums like this ....

Is presently elusive to me ....

MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE NEWNESS OF THIS METHOD OF COMMUNICATION ....

WHICH I VIEW AS AN EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY .....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

"'Pork' reforms touted - Cuomo's steps require grant recipients to reveal links to state lawmakers"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Tuesday, January 23, 2007

ALBANY -- The initiative comes as several lawmakers have been indicted or subjected to criminal investigation over their use of member items in recent years.

Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr. and former Assemblyman Brian M. McLaughlin, both New York City Democrats, were charged in federal indictments with using tens of thousands of dollars in member item grants funneled to nonprofit organizations for personal expenses.

Federal investigators are also reviewing the granting of $500,000 by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, to a private company in his district, Troy-based Evident Technologies Inc.

Evident is owned partly by a business associate and friend of Bruno.

Cuomo declined to name any particular grants that he finds troubling.

He also would not say whether he thought his predecessor, Spitzer, should have more aggressively monitored member items during his eight-year tenure as attorney general. '

Spitzer became governor this year.

"There have been serious questions raised about member items; it's a recent phenomena," Cuomo said, adding that his initiative follows Spitzer's gubernatorial promise to improve disclosure and ethics in Albany.

And by way of some background ....

As to the genesis of this thread ......

"Funds blocked amid scandal - Silver halts payments to nonprofit after a lawmaker is accused of racketeering"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Friday, October 20, 2006

ALBANY -- Indicted Assemblyman Brian M. McLaughlin steered tens of thousands of dollars in member items to a nonprofit group in Flushing that was supposed to buy sports equipment for a Little League baseball team, according to court and state records.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, rushed to block any further state payments to the Electchester Athletic Association Inc., his aide Charles Carrier said Thursday.

Silver's move followed an indictment earlier this week accusing McLaughlin, a seven-term Democrat, of misappropriating $95,000 from the organization after directing state grants to it over the years.

Carrier said he cannot say who sponsored the member-item funds to the sports group in Electchester, a community of affordable housing units built with funds advanced by Local 3 of the International Union of Electrical Workers, which McLaughlin has headed.

The housing project is in the district of Democratic Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn.

Her chief of staff, Michael Simanowitz, said she sent small grants of about $2,000 a year to the group.

McLaughlin, an Assembly member since 1992, was indicted Tuesday.

He faces 43 counts including racketeering and money laundering.

He allegedly stole from his campaign fund, raided the Electchester nonprofit, took payouts from contractors and misused $2.2 million for a variety of personal expenses.

McLaughlin pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Manhattan Wednesday.

His office did not return calls Thursday.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, Michael Garcia, alleged in the 186-page indictment that McLaughlin misappropriated state funds from the Electchester Athletic Association by diverting money intended for a Little League baseball program.

According to state comptroller's records, Electchester Athletic Association received five member-item grants since 2002 $21,400.

Another $15,600 member-item grant to the group is pending from the Assembly Democrats, according to the Office of Children & Family Services, which is administering the grants.

Silver stopped further payment on the grant, Carrier said, but agency spokesman Brian Marchetti was unsure if that had been done.

Marchetti said the pending member item is supposed to be used for sports supplies.

The federal indictment against McLaughlin represents the biggest list of felony charges in memory against a sitting lawmaker.

McLaughlin announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election.

Investigators say McLaughlin embezzled, stole and converted money for uses such as building a home, paying for a luxury car for his wife, cash for female friends and wedding expenses for his son.

He also allegedly created no-show jobs in the Assembly so that he could enrich himself with more state paychecks.

McLaughlin, the indictment says, created two fictitious posts on his Assembly staff and misappropriated more than $35,000 from the state by pocketing a share of the salary for one of the purported employees.

He also allegedly submitted false claims for reimbursement of daily expenses for time in Albany when he was not actually in town.

The indictment says families of children who took part in Electchester sports programs paid fees to participate, and the group held fundraisers to support the teams.

McLaughlin added to the nonprofit's treasury by securing member-item grants, the indictment says.

For some of the money, the EAA produced sponsorship forms to solicit contributions.

The forms thanked contributors and concluded with the message:

"A child in sports stays out of the courts!"

Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

And some more background ....

On the PORK-O-CRACY ....

Up here ....

In the CORRUPT EMPIRE ....

Of New York ....

"A town's grateful concession to pork"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, October 9, 2006

State Sen. Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno has a baseball stadium named for him in Troy, a broadcast control room at WMHT's North Greenbush headquarters and a bust bearing his likeness at Albany International Airport.

And he almost had a sports field concession stand named in his honor.

Almost.

This latest edifice complex tale has a familiar theme: pork barrel spending and honors to a politician who gives out taxpayer money.

Between 2000 and 2002 Bruno secured $40,000 for the town of Brunswick, which used the money for improvements to its sports complex and programs.

Some went to expand the concession stand used during Brunswick Bulldogs football games.

Bulldog supporters planned to mount a plaque honoring the senator, and discussed naming the concession stand after him, according to a person familiar with the team.

But apparently, a scheduling conflict prevented Bruno from attending the team's annual pep rally/bonfire on Sept. 22.

The plaque never went up.

At this point the stories diverge, depending on whom one asks, on whether the Bulldogs were miffed that Bruno missed the rally.

"We understood."

"At some point we will put the plaque up," said one person connected with the affair, adding, "Joe Bruno has been good to us."

But another source, also at the rally, said some were displeased, all the more because they felt Bruno's office had pressured them to name something after their hometown senator.

It's no secret, he said, that "Joe would like to have something named after him in Brunswick."

Bruno spokesman Kris Thompson called that notion "ridiculous."

"We don't solicit people to put names on buildings or anything else of that sort," said Thompson.

"This is about the kids, it's not about naming rights."

Contributors: Capitol bureau reporters Rick Karlin and James M. Odato. Got a tip? Call 454-5424 or e-mail jjochnowitz@ timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

And for those of you who are just joining in here ....

By way of background .....

Because CONTEXT is important .....

It can be accurately said ......

Or stated .....

That the "path" to this thread ....

Comes in from many directions ....

ALL OF THEM FACTUAL ...

Which is to say ....

Backed up by some type of independent evidence ....

AND ALL OF THEM PUBLIC RECORD ....

In the State of New York ....

Which is to say ...

This thread is not based on supposition .....

Or innuendo ....

Statements made and conclusions drawn in this thread are done so based upon the record to be developed in here ....

And so ...

And one of those directions ....

Is stated in the public record ....

In the following recent news item ....

From the pages of the Albany, New York Times Union ....

The newspaper of record for the capital city of the State of New York ....

And so ....

Without further ado ...

"Feeding off taxpayers no crime, lawyer says - Cronyism, big spending called usual government practice at Strevell trial"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Thursday, January 18, 2007

ALBANY -- A defense lawyer for the Rensselaer County entrepreneur whose organization got more than $1 million in member item grants directed by Sen. Joseph L. Bruno is arguing in federal court that dishonesty isn't necessarily a federal offense.

William P. Fanciullo, lawyer for J. Felix Strevell, the former director of the now-defunct Institute for Entrepreneurship, also said that Strevell's actions, including putting relatives on the state payroll, were normal practices in government.

Fanciullo asserted that the U.S. attorney's case against Strevell is full of allegations that should not be classified as federal crimes.

In his motion to dismiss the federal case, he suggested that by the prosecution's logic, state employees could be hauled to court for taking a sick day to play golf.

"According to the indictment it has become a felony to have a conflict of interest," says Fanciullo.

"Any 'dishonesty,' any state law violation, connected to employment, coupled with mailing or wire, becomes a federal felony."

Strevell is charged with nine counts of mail fraud and six counts of wire fraud.

The case before U.S. District Court Justice Gary L. Sharpe centers on Strevell's lavish spending on himself and on parties that honored lawmakers who helped him get public money.

Among its funding sources, the institute received two $500,000 discretionary grants, known as member items, through Bruno in 1999 and 2001.

Strevell allegedly misused some of the $8 million in mostly taxpayer funds raised by the institute during his reign from 1998 to 2001, when he and his brother, Chauncey, the former chief operating officer, abruptly quit.

While at the institute, Strevell hired friends, relatives of powerful Republicans, his daughter and his daughter's boyfriend.

He also used institute funds to purchase clothing and trips for himself and family members.

The institute's activities, revealed by the Times Union, became an embarrassment for Republican leaders who had supported it, including Bruno, R-Brunswick, Gov. George Pataki and his administration, and former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park.

Prosecutors say Strevell, a former state bureaucrat, manipulated the system to set up the nonprofit institute as an offshoot of state government.

He worked to improperly enrich himself and his family, the indictment says, receiving a base salary of $225,000 plus $24,000 for a housing stipend, trips for family members and merchandise for his personal use, including a $64,000 recreational vehicle.

Strevell also allegedly doctored the record of a board vote that resulted in his pay rising by $95,000.

Fanciullo said Strevell's management of the institute followed normal and accepted practices of government, including the hiring of kin, and that the salary vote was legitimate.

In his motion to dismiss, Fanciullo attached a deposition from Chauncey Strevell saying he and two other members of the board, Jeffrey Pfiel and Georgette Mosbacher, voted to approve the raise.

He said the other two board members, including another Strevell brother, Felix, and Joseph Magno, abstained.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Lord, in her response to the court, said Fanciullo used "wildly hypothetical" situations to demonstrate unsuitable prosecutions.

She added that mail fraud is a legitimate charge because Strevell used the mail to conduct his alleged frauds.

M. Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.

The other day ....

I heard George W. Bush say ....

On FOX News .....

That .....

The "STATE OF OUR UNION WAS STRONG" ......

And I was curious about that, to be truthful .....

WHAT HIS "YARDSTICK OF MEASUREMENT" WAS .....

And of course, in a superficial media event such as that was ....

WE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ....

Could not expect to hear any substantiation of that allegation .....

From George W. Bush ...

And so ......

WHAT REALLY, THEN, IS OUR "UNION" .....

AND IS IT "STRONG" .....

OR IS IT ACTUALLY ROTTING FROM WITHIN ....

AND LIKE A FISH ....

FROM THE HEAD DOWN .....

IS OUR UNION REALLY STRONG .....

WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ....

IS INDICTING PUBLIC OFFICIALS ....

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

FOR USING THEIR ELECTED POSITIONS .....

TO ROB THE PUBLIC TILL?

I WONDER HOW GEORGE W. BUSH WOULD RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION ....

IF HE WERE TO BE PRESSED ON THIS POINT ....

BY THE PRESS?

WHEN WE HAVE ALLEGED CORRUPT STATES IN OUR UNION ....

SUCH AS NEW YORK ....

WHICH IS ALLEGEDLY IN COMPETITION .....

WITH OTHER STATES IN THE UNION ....

WHICH ARE APPRENTLY CORRUPT AS WELL ....

HOW ON EARTH DOES THAT MAKE THE "STATE OF OUR UNION" STRONG?

That is something that just seems to be beyond the ability of us simple country folks up here to understand ....

To "winkel out", as it were ....

HOW IT IS GOOD FOR AMERICA TO HAVE WITHIN ITS UNION ....

ALLEGED CORRUPT STATES LIKE NEW YORK .....

Where in the FEDERAL NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ....

Right here in its CAPITAL of Albany, New York ....

A Bush-appointee FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ....

Named Gary L. Sharpe .....

IS BEING ASKED ....

TO PLACE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEAL OF APPROVAL ....

ON CORRUPTION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

AS AN ACCEPTABLE GOVERNMENTAL PRACTICE .....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

The other day ....

I heard George W. Bush say ....

On FOX News .....

That .....

The "STATE OF OUR UNION WAS STRONG" ......

And I was curious about that, to be truthful .....

WHAT HIS "YARDSTICK OF MEASUREMENT" WAS .....

And of course, in a superficial media event such as that was ....

WE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ....

Could not expect to hear any substantiation of that allegation .....

From George W. Bush ...

And so ......

WHAT REALLY, THEN, IS OUR "UNION" .....

AND IS IT "STRONG"?

When I was young .....

Here in OUR America ....

OUR UNION ....

And here, perhaps an older American like Mr. A.B. can bear this out ....

Bear out the fact that my mind is not slipping on me ....

As I enter my older age .....

Or that I am not delusional in here ....

Or out of my wits .....

Or addle-pated .....

OUR UNION .....

Only had within it ....

48 states ....

And not the fifty of today .....

When I was young ....

And here again ...

Perhaps Mr. A.B. can bear witness to this .....

Neither Alaska ....

Nor Hawaii ......

WERE AMERICAN STATES ....

AND THUS ....

THEY WERE NOT A PART OF OUR UNION .....

And so .....

Being an American state .....

Is not simply an automatic thing .....

Which is something that I was taught as a young American .....

BY TEACHERS WHO WERE OF MR. A.B.'S GENERATION ....

WHO WERE THERE IN OUR SCHOOLS .....

TO TEACH US ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTIONS ....

BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL .....

AND OUR FORM OF GOVERMENT ....

WHICH IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ....

AND NEVER WAS INTENDED TO BE ....

RATHER, IT IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT ....

THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ALLOW DEMOCRACY TO FLOURISH OVER HERE ....

WITHIN THE LIMITS ESTABLISHED BY OUR CONSTITUTIONS .....

BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL .....

And so .....

[Livyjr]

When I talk about CORRUPTION in the State of New York .....

I AM GOING TO THE SOURCE ....

WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE STATE, ITSELF ....

Such as this BILL MESSAGE from then-New York State Governor Mario Cuomo above here in 1986 .....

And to further "flesh that out" .....

THE ALLEGATION THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS A PROBLEM WITH CORRUPTION .....

Let us go ....

For the moment .....

To ARTICLE 460 ....

Of the New York State Penal Law ....

Which is entitled ENTERPRISE CORRUPTION ...

That ARTICLE OF LAW being a part of TITLE X of the New York State Penal Law ....

Entitled ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL ACT ....

And the relevant part of that state law which pertains directly to this discussion in here ....

Is as follows:

S 460.00 Legislative findings.

The legislature (of the State of New York) finds and determines as follows:

Organized crime in New York state involves highly sophisticated, complex and widespread forms of criminal activity.

The diversified illegal conduct engaged in by organized crime, rooted in the illegal use of force, fraud, and corruption, constitutes a major drain upon the state's economy, costs citizens and businesses of the state billions of dollars each year, and threatens the peace, security and general welfare of the people of the state.

Organized crime continues to expand its corrosive influence in the state through illegal enterprises engaged in such criminal endeavors as the theft and fencing of property, the importation and distribution of narcotics and other dangerous drugs, arson for profit, hijacking, labor racketeering, loansharking, extortion and bribery, the illegal disposal of hazardous wastes, syndicated gambling, trafficking in stolen securities, insurance and investment frauds, and other forms of economic and social exploitation.[/size]

The money and power derived by organized crime through its illegal enterprises and endeavors is increasingly being used to infiltrate and corrupt businesses, unions and other legitimate enterprises and to corrupt our democratic processes.

end quotes

SO!

THE MONEY AND POWER OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN NEW YORK STATE IS BEING USED TO CORRUPT OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES HERE IN NEW YORK STATE!

WHICH IS ONE BIG PART OF WHY THIS THREAD IS RUNNING IN HERE ....

And so ....

"Lifetime perk draws scrutiny - Lawmaker says members of state boards may have erred in giving themselves health coverage benefit"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Friday, January 26, 2007

ALBANY -- Board members of two state agencies charged with helping create affordable housing in New York voted last year to use state funds to give themselves and their spouses lifetime health insurance, according to board members.

The six-member Housing Finance Agency and the eight-member New York State Mortgage Association boards gave themselves the benefits as a payback for service, said former Sen. Howard C. Nolan, an appointee of the comptroller's office to the SONYMA board.

He said the benefit seemed reasonable given the unpaid service board members provide the state, and the need to "attract quality people."

However, a lawmaker who oversees public authorities said the benefit may be an illegal bonus for board members who are not supposed to be compensated.

"It's an apparent violation of the laws creating SONYMA which do not permit compensation," said Assembly Corporations Committee Chairman Richard Brodsky, D-White Plains.

"A lot of people won't serve unless they get a touch of the hat," said Nolan, who represented Albany County in the Senate.

"Feeding off taxpayers no crime, lawyer says - Cronyism, big spending called usual government practice at Strevell trial"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Thursday, January 18, 2007

ALBANY -- A defense lawyer for the Rensselaer County entrepreneur whose organization got more than $1 million in member item grants directed by Sen. Joseph L. Bruno is arguing in federal court that dishonesty isn't necessarily a federal offense.

William P. Fanciullo, lawyer for J. Felix Strevell, the former director of the now-defunct Institute for Entrepreneurship, also said that Strevell's actions, including putting relatives on the state payroll, were normal practices in government.

The case before U.S. District Court Justice Gary L. Sharpe centers on Strevell's lavish spending on himself and on parties that honored lawmakers who helped him get public money.

Among its funding sources, the institute received two $500,000 discretionary grants, known as member items, through Bruno in 1999 and 2001.

Strevell allegedly misused some of the $8 million in mostly taxpayer funds raised by the institute during his reign from 1998 to 2001, when he and his brother, Chauncey, the former chief operating officer, abruptly quit.

While at the institute, Strevell hired friends, relatives of powerful Republicans, his daughter and his daughter's boyfriend.

He also used institute funds to purchase clothing and trips for himself and family members.

The institute's activities, revealed by the Times Union, became an embarrassment for Republican leaders who had supported it, including Bruno, R-Brunswick, Gov. George Pataki and his administration, and former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park.

Prosecutors say Strevell, a former state bureaucrat, manipulated the system to set up the nonprofit institute as an offshoot of state government.

He worked to improperly enrich himself and his family, the indictment says, receiving a base salary of $225,000 plus $24,000 for a housing stipend, trips for family members and merchandise for his personal use, including a $64,000 recreational vehicle.

Strevell also allegedly doctored the record of a board vote that resulted in his pay rising by $95,000.

Fanciullo said Strevell's management of the institute followed normal and accepted practices of government, including the hiring of kin, and that the salary vote was legitimate.

"Spitzer prepares to take over after 12 years of Republican rule"

By MARC HUMBERT, Associated Press
Last updated: 11:02 a.m., Saturday, December 30, 2006

ALBANY -- Calling himself "the new CEO of the state," Eliot Spitzer says he has a "sense of excitement and anticipation" as he prepares to take over as New York's 54th governor on New Year's Day.

"There is a new CEO of the state and I'm going to run the state with my partners."

And while we are on that subject of limits ....

And Constitutions ....

And OUR laws which flow from them ....

TO PRESERVE OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES .....

IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT OVER HERE ...

VERSUS "PEOPLE OF QUALITY" ....

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER'S "PARTNERS" ....

WHO WON'T SERVE ....

UNLESS THEY GET ....

A "TOUCH OF THE HAT" .....

We have ....

"Bruno used campaign cash for hotel on Florida trip - Senator had dubbed it a 'vacation', which, watchdogs say, raises questions about the expenditure"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, January 29, 2007

ALBANY -- Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno used state-regulated campaign funds to pay for his stay at an exclusive south Florida hotel last year, during a three-day trip he has described as "a vacation."

His staff, too, initially insisted the trip was private.

However, state law makes "the personal use of contributions received by a candidate or political committee" a crime "if such personal use is unrelated to a political campaign or the holding of a public office or party position."

Bruno's claim that the trip was a private vacation raises questions about his use of campaign money to help pay for it.

Last week, Bruno and his staff refused to answer additional questions or discuss details of the senator's visit to Florida.

The junket is one of many issues being examined by federal authorities as they sift through Bruno's private business dealings and personal relationships as part of an investigation that sources said is focusing on whether his influence was for sale.

As the Times Union reported Jan. 14, Bruno flew to Palm Beach County, Fla., last January aboard the private jet of his friend and business associate, Jared E. Abbruzzese, whose records also have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury.

Initially, Bruno's office characterized the senator's travel as a "private trip," saying it had no connection to his role as a public official.

Their position changed days later after the Times Union subsequently began asking about public records showing Bruno's use of campaign funds to pay for lodging.

His staff then said a portion of the senator's vacation had involved "meetings and talks with potential campaign contributors."

They have declined to provide any details about those meetings and have declined to identify the potential contributors.

A periodic report filed last July with the state Board of Elections shows the Committee to Re-Elect Senator Bruno paid $1,319.84 to The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach at the end of Bruno's three-night stay.

The expenditure is among hundreds made each year from the campaign account, which has made millions available to the senator in recent years.

Like the campaign war chests of many elected officials, the money comes from a variety of contributors, including political action committees, private donors, wealthy business people and corporations.

There is little monitoring of how campaign funds are spent, according to government watchdog groups.

It's up to the State Board of Elections to decide whether Bruno's use of campaign funds during his vacation would violate that law, but legislative directors for two government watchdog groups said the expenditure makes clear that New York's campaign finance laws are at best vague, and often not enforced.

"Generally speaking, our view is a campaign contribution should only be used for campaign issues," said Blair Horner, legislative director at the New York Public Interest Research Group.

"You essentially have a system of self-regulation."

"... It shouldn't be Senator Bruno's decision on what's appropriate."

A federal grand jury has subpoenaed the business records of both Abbruzzese and Bruno as part of an ongoing investigation.

Abbruzzese is one of only several business associates of Bruno whose financial records have been subpoenaed.

The subpoenaed information includes records from the Palm Beach trip, although the three-day outing is not said to be a primary focus of the probe, according to an official with knowledge of the investigation.

Bruno disputes any assertion he may have broken the law and has pledged to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.

In a related matter, the state Lobbying Commission is investigating whether Abbruzzese is an unregistered lobbyist who may have tried to influence state government.

The state panel also has obtained flight records from the Palm Beach trip.

While in Florida, Bruno played two days of golf at an exclusive private course, visited a high-class strip club, and went to Gulfstream Park horse track aboard a private helicopter, a round-trip flight that cost about $5,000, according to knowledgeable sources and an official briefed on the investigations.

The 12-minute helicopter flight also was arranged by Abbruzzese, through Richmor Aviation, a flight-services company that manages his aircraft and private flights.

The group stayed at the racetrack for about five hours before flying back to their hotel, sources said.

On Jan. 12, a Bruno spokesman declined comment on the senator's Florida visit, saying it was a private trip that did not involve Bruno's role as a public official.

Two days later, after a Times Union story disclosed details about the interest authorities have in the Florida junket, the senator's spokesman, John McArdle, told the New York Daily News:

"It was a private trip, and we're not going to discuss anything he does in his private life that doesn't affect what he does as a public official."

Then, on Jan. 18, when pressed about Bruno's use of campaign funds at the hotel, and his activities while there, Bruno's office responded:

"... a fundraiser was scheduled in Florida the following month, (and) a portion of the trip did involve meetings and talks with potential campaign contributors about supporting the Senate majority."

In a local radio interview that same day, Bruno criticized the Times Union's report and said he had not "had a vacation in 35 years."

Beyond those statements, Bruno's office would only say the senator "properly reports all required information."

The state Board of Elections does not investigate campaign expenditures unless a campaign committee officer requests an opinion or a formal complaint is lodged.

In general, it is up to individual committees to determine whether their expenditures follow the rules.

"The answer really depends on what is happening and is it furthering what the statute requires, either the holding of the public office or the running for public office," said Robert Brehm, a spokesman for the state Board of Elections.

Federal authorities and the state Lobbying Commission have used subpoenas and letters to obtain information on the Palm Beach trip and flights from Richmor Aviation.

The Palm Beach trip is one of several that Bruno, R-Brunswick, took with Abbruzzese or aboard Abbruzzese's aircraft.

Bruno's campaign has paid for some of the flights, but the Palm Beach trip and the helicopter flight apparently are not reflected in any public records.

Months after the Florida trip, Abbruzzese became a director and investor with Empire Racing Associates, one of three consortiums vying for the franchise to run New York's horse racing tracks.

He severed that relationship after the federal investigation was disclosed.

Another person who accompanied Bruno on his vacation was Joseph Torani, who is the Senate Republicans' appointee to the New York Racing Association's Oversight Committee.

Torani, managing partner at a financial and consulting firm in Colonie, had been on the oversight committee for five months when he went to Palm Beach with Bruno, Abbruzzese and a physician who has treated Bruno.

The four men are friends, and Bruno and Abbruzzese have mutual business interests, according to a knowledgeable source.

Federal authorities also are exploring why one of Abbruzzese's companies allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to Bruno's private consulting business.

Barbara Bartoletti, legislative director for New York State League of Women Voters, said the state's campaign finance laws are in need of a major overhaul.

Bruno's use of campaign funds on a vacation is questionable, she said, because he arguably declared it a private trip in connection with the private flights, golf, meals and racetrack outing, but a matter of political business for the sake of his lodging.

"They can't have it all ways," Bartoletti said.

"This is where all this gets so convoluted, and lots of it is because we don't have a bright shining line in the sand that separates what you do as a private citizen and what you do as an elected representative."

It's not the first time Bruno's use of campaign funds has drawn interest.

In 2001, the Board of Elections declined to investigate Bruno's use of more than $4,300 in campaign funds for extermination services, landscaping, and to buy a swimming pool cover at his property in Brunswick.

Bruno said he has used the area for political events.

Another time, thousands from Bruno's campaign funds were used to cover the cost of an aide's trip to Italy with the senator during a vacation.

Government watchdog groups filed complaints over the spending, but they said campaign laws are too vague and allow lawmakers unbridled discretion in how the money is used.

J. Lyons can be reached at 454-5547 or by e-mail at blyons@timesunion.com.

A changing story

The office of the Senate majority leader refuses to identify campaign contributors met during a 2006 Florida junket.

Jan. 12:

Bruno's office declines to discuss the trip publicly.

His spokesman confirms that Bruno is not commenting about the issue because it was a private vacation.

Jan. 14: A Times Union story discloses details about Bruno's trip to West Palm Beach aboard a private jet.

Jan. 14: Bruno spokesman John McArdle tells the Daily News:

"It was a private trip, and we're not going to discuss anything he does in his private life that doesn't affect what he does as a public official."

Jan. 18: In response to questions about Bruno's use of campaign funds and other issues, McArdle issues the following statements:

"Senator Bruno's trip to Florida did not involve government-related business or his role as a public official.

Given that a fundraiser was scheduled in Florida the following month, a portion of the trip did involve meetings and talks with potential campaign contributors about supporting the Senate majority."

"Again, as the trip was private and did not involve his role as a public official, we are not commenting on details of the trip beyond matters that Senator Bruno has publicly discussed."

Jan. 18: In a radio interview with the bureau chief of the New York Post, Bruno said the January trip may have coincided with a fundraiser involving Donald Trump, who hosted a fundraiser for Bruno in February 2006, nearly six weeks after the Palm Beach trip.

"I was on a two-day tournament at Greg Norman's golf course with people."

"... I believe we did a fundraiser that night when I was down there."

"There's nothing, nothing illegal," Bruno told WROW (590 AM).

"Nothing wrong about what was done."

"Absolutely nothing."

"The paper [Times Union] is sensationalizing like the biggest tabloid, trying to make some big expose."

"What was the expose?"

"That I hadn't had a vacation for 35 years?"

"When I went down there for a couple of days, frankly, I was happy to catch a break."

"We combined it with fundraising because that's more my style."

Jan. 23: Bruno's office declines to answer additional questions.

Spokesman Mark Hansen issues a statement:

"John McArdle made it quite clear in the e-mail on January 18th ..."

"In response to your questions about expenses for the trip, Senator Bruno properly reports all required information."

"That completely clarifies your questions."

end quotes

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT "PORK" ....

HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK .....

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST A PART OF THE PIG ....

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE HOG ....

CHARACTERIZED .....

BY THESE PEOPLE OF QUALITY .....

WAY ABOVE US COMMON FOLKS IN THE SOCIAL ORDER, OF COURSE ....

WHO WON'T "SERVE" .....

UNLESS THEY GET ....

"A TOUCH OF THE HAT" .....

WHICH IS A PHRASE WITH MANY MEANINGS ....

WITH ONE OF THEM BEING THE "TUG OF THE FORELOCK" .....

OR A TOUCH OF THE FINGER ....

TO THE BRIM OF THE HAT ...

AS A SIGN OF DEFERENCE ....

TO THEM ....

THESE "PEOPLE OF QUALITY" .....

FROM US ....

THE COMMON FOLKS ....

AS IF THIS WERE SOME FEUDALISTIC SOCIETY THAT WE ARE LIVING IN UP HERE ....

WITH THEM BEING THE "LORDS OF THE MANOR" ....

AND US THE SERFS ....

And so ...

[Livyjr]

And a bit more news ....

About how the PORK-O-CRACY operates .....

Up here ....

In the CORRUPT EMPIRE .....

Of NEW YORK .....

Where it is "GO ALONG TO GET ALONG" .....

Or ...

"LEAVE YOUR INTEGRITY AT THE DOOR ..."

"IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THE GAME ..."

"GET YOURSELF SOME BOODLE ..."

"IF YOU'LL JUST MAKE NICE TO THE PEOPLE OF QUALITY ..."

"YOU KNOW ..."

"GIVE THEM A TOUCH OF THE HAT ..."

"AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU SOME CANDY IN RETURN ..."

From out of OUR pockets, of course ...

THE TAXPAYERS .....

Because that is what we are here for, after all ....

TO BE THE "CASH COWS" .....

OFF OF WHICH THE WHOLE HOGS ....

OR "PORKERS" .....

FEED ....

And so ....

"Writers on NYRA to-pay list"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, January 29, 2007

The New York Racing Association has long been known for treating reporters who cover NYRA races warmly.

A new bankruptcy filing from NYRA shows the friendliness extends beyond free lunches.

Among NYRA's unsecured creditors are turf writers, most of whom also write about NYRA's management, who are on the staffs of major daily newspapers or are regular correspondents.

The writers have been getting $50 appearance fees from NYRA, which operates the Saratoga, Aqueduct and Belmont tracks, for talking about what's in their columns and handicapping horses on NYRA's TV network broadcast nationwide.

The list includes two track writers for Long Island's Newsday, two for the New York Post, two for the New York Daily News and one each from the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, the Troy Record and the Times Union of Albany (Matt Graves, who is a retired staffer).

Two of the writers, Paul Moran of Newsday, owed $250, and Ed Fountaine of the Post, owed $200, said they send the money to charities involving retired jockeys or horses.

The filing also shows Paul Vandenburgh, a WROW-AM 590 talk show host and manager who frequently has NYRA officials on his program, is owed $300; NYRA says it was for a "remote" of his show at the track.

Vandenburgh said the $300 is his standard "talent fee" when his station does a live broadcast from the premises of a business.

Contributors: Capitol bureau reporter James M. Odato and State Editor Jay Jochnowitz. Got a tip? Call 454-5424 or e-mail jjochnowitz@timesunion.com.

end quotes

A TALENT FEE?

HHHhhhhmmmmmm .......

Maybe me and Mr. A.B. are missing out on something here ......

This "TALENT FEE" bid-ness .....

Let's see .....

We've both been posting in here for a couple of years now ...

Which must qualify us as TALENTS now .....

And let's see .....

At $300 per "performance" ......

Well ....

Mr. A.B. .....

You up to a trip to Florida with me .....

We'll hit some race tracks .....

Play some golf with Greg Norman .....

I'll pass on the high-priced strip club, myself ....

And I believe Mr. A.B. will as well .....

But with all that "APPEARANCE MONEY" in our warchests in here .....

Me and Mr. A.B. will both be sporting brand-new executive jets to ferry us around .....

And so ....

BOY, ISN'T THIS BEING A "PORKER" A REAL COOL DEAL ......

And so ....

[Livyjr]

AHHHHHH ........

THE "GOOD LIFE" .....

If you are a powerful REPUBLICAN politician .....

Who holds the lives of the PEOPLE of the State of New York ...

In your IRON GRIP ...

And you can CRUSH them at will ....

As OUR "IRON DUKE" .....

The POWERFUL Joe Bruno can .....

And so .....

BIG BOY'S NIGHT OUT HERE, is all, folks .....

Nothing to worry about ....

Just go back home ...

Get back down in your basements ......

AVERT YOUR EYES .....

DON'T QUESTION ....

WHAT YOUR BETTERS ARE UP TO ....

A LIFE OF PRIVILEGE .....

IS A PRIVILEGED LIFE, AFTER ALL ....

And so ....

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT "PORK" ....

HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK .....

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST A PART OF THE PIG ....

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE HOG ....

CHARACTERIZED .....

BY THESE PEOPLE OF QUALITY .....

WAY ABOVE US COMMON FOLKS IN THE SOCIAL ORDER, OF COURSE ....

WHO WON'T "SERVE" .....

UNLESS THEY GET ....

"A TOUCH OF THE HAT" .....

WHICH IS A PHRASE WITH MANY MEANINGS ....

WITH ONE OF THEM BEING THE "TUG OF THE FORELOCK" .....

OR A TOUCH OF THE FINGER ....

TO THE BRIM OF THE HAT ...

AS A SIGN OF DEFERENCE ....

TO THEM ....

THESE "PEOPLE OF QUALITY" .....

FROM US ....

THE COMMON FOLKS ....

AS IF THIS WERE SOME FEUDALISTIC SOCIETY THAT WE ARE LIVING IN UP HERE ....

WITH THEM BEING THE "LORDS OF THE MANOR" ....

AND US THE SERFS ....

And so ...

"Bruno used campaign cash for hotel on Florida trip - Senator had dubbed it a 'vacation', which, watchdogs say, raises questions about the expenditure"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, January 29, 2007

ALBANY -- Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno used state-regulated campaign funds to pay for his stay at an exclusive south Florida hotel last year, during a three-day trip he has described as "a vacation."

In a radio interview with the bureau chief of the New York Post, Bruno said the January trip may have coincided with a fundraiser involving Donald Trump, who hosted a fundraiser for Bruno in February 2006, nearly six weeks after the Palm Beach trip.

"I was on a two-day tournament at Greg Norman's golf course with people."

"... I believe we did a fundraiser that night when I was down there."

"There's nothing, nothing illegal," Bruno told WROW (590 AM) [PAUL VANDENBURG].

"Nothing wrong about what was done."

"Absolutely nothing."

"The paper [Times Union] is sensationalizing like the biggest tabloid, trying to make some big expose."

"What was the expose?"

"That I hadn't had a vacation for 35 years?"

"When I went down there for a couple of days, frankly, I was happy to catch a break."

"We combined it with fundraising because that's more my style."

"Palm Beach trip probed - Vacation, including a visit to a strip club, part of the Bruno-Abbruzzese inquiry"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Sunday, January 14, 2007

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- New York's legislative leaders had been in session only a few days last year when Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno quietly left town for a vacation in Florida.

It was Jan. 11, a Wednesday, and a bitter political debate over sexual offender laws was unfolding as Bruno boarded the private jet of his friend, Jared E. Abbruzzese, a Loudonville multimillionaire.

The two-day excursion included an expensive round of golf at an exclusive course, The Medalist, designed by Australian golf legend Greg Norman.

The day would end with Abbruzzese bankrolling the senator's visit to a strip club.

On the drive back from the golf course, the men pulled into Rachel's, a high-class strip club and steakhouse in the heart of West Palm Beach.

There, patrons are greeted by overly polite valets who spend much of their time parking Range Rovers and customized BMWs driven by an almost exclusively male clientele.

Inside, $40 steaks and $90 bottles of wine are delivered by bow-tied waiters in a darkened four-star atmosphere.

On two stages in the center of the club, female performers, some fully nude, move fluidly under pulsing strobe lights while tunes from rockers such as Tom Petty and Jimi Hendrix pierce the air.

For those seeking a closer encounter, the women, many resembling Playboy centerfolds, offer private lap dances -- at a $20 minimum -- on a leather-covered bench near a secluded spot in the back.

Bruno's two-day vacation, including the night at Rachel's, was bankrolled by Abbruzzese, sources told the Times Union.

Bruno, 77, declined repeated requests for comment on the Palm Beach trip.

His staffers said he considers the vacation a private matter and no one's business.

Abbruzzese, according to a source close to him, disputes any assertion he was trying to buy Bruno's influence.

"I have a deep love for the man," Abbruzzese has said in describing their relationship, according to a knowledgeable source.

Sometime after the investigation began, according to sources involved in the case, Bruno placed several telephone calls to U.S. Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby, the top federal prosecutor in New York's Northern District.

The investigation is being headed by Suddaby's office and the FBI.

Bruno's spokesman disputes that account of the calls.

"Senator Bruno made one call to the U.S. Attorney's office when he was informed that they were conducting an inquiry," said John McArdle, director of communications for Senate Republicans.

"He did so to offer his complete and total cooperation."

"He did not call anyone repeatedly."

Suddaby declined comment, citing a policy not to discuss pending investigations.

"Writers on NYRA to-pay list"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, January 29, 2007

The New York Racing Association has long been known for treating reporters who cover NYRA races warmly.

A new bankruptcy filing from NYRA shows the friendliness extends beyond free lunches.

The filing also shows Paul Vandenburgh, a WROW-AM 590 talk show host and manager who frequently has NYRA officials on his program, is owed $300; NYRA says it was for a "remote" of his show at the track.

Vandenburgh said the $300 is his standard "talent fee" when his station does a live broadcast from the premises of a business.

"Spitzer prepares to take over after 12 years of Republican rule"

By MARC HUMBERT, Associated Press
Last updated: 11:02 a.m., Saturday, December 30, 2006

ALBANY -- Calling himself "the new CEO of the state," Eliot Spitzer says he has a "sense of excitement and anticipation" as he prepares to take over as New York's 54th governor on New Year's Day.

"There is a new CEO of the state and I'm going to run the state with my partners."

And when in Section 460.00 of the New York State Penal Law ....

Entitled "Legislative findings" ......

It is stated that:

The legislature (of the State of New York) finds and determines the money and power derived by organized crime through its illegal enterprises and endeavors is increasingly being used to infiltrate and corrupt businesses, unions and other legitimate enterprises and to corrupt our democratic processes ......

It was quite easy for them to make that finding .....

The "WHOLE HOGS" and "PORKERS" down there ....

Especially the part about "CORRUPTING OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES ..."

BECAUSE ALL THEY HAD TO DO ....

TO MAKE THAT FINDING ....

WAS TO LOOK RIGHT AT THEMSELVES .....

THE ONES WHO ARE IN THERE ....

SELLING US OUT ....

ALONG WITH OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES ....

TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS .....

REGARDLESS OF WHERE THOSE HIGH BIDDERS ARE FROM ....

SO LONG AS THEY HAVE THE GEETUS .....

TO "PAY THE FREIGHT" .....

BUY THEMSELVES SOME INFLUENCE ....

WHICH IS ALBANY, NEW YORK'S ONLY REAL "PRODUCT" .....

OUT THERE ON THE MARKET ....

And so ....

"Minority parties toil in the dark - Going is tough for Democrats in Senate, Republicans in Assembly"

By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press

First published: Monday, January 29, 2007

ALBANY -- The Legislature's mostly silenced minority parties so far this year have tried to change legislative rules, alter the way the budget is negotiated, even to sweeten a tax-cut proposal to include renters.

But as in past years, the proposals will mostly be fodder for campaign fliers back home, not legislation in Albany.

While leaders of majority parties in both houses -- Democrats in the Assembly and Republicans in the Senate -- wield great power in what proposals become law, there is little chance for a minority party measure to even get to a floor debate.

Without a majority leader's consent, it's harder to get a bill to the floor in Albany than in any state legislature in the country, concluded the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law in a 2004 report that deemed New York's Legislature the worst in the nation.

"The minorities, Mr. Smith and myself, are left out," said Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, referring to Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, a Queens Democrat.

"We don't want anything special, just to let our ideas get aired."

"It's absolutely an embarrassment for the people of this state," Smith said.

"They can't even have representatives with the ability to get a bill on the floor of the Senate."

Still, the minority party proposals are worth watching because they aren't always ignored.

Albany's majority parties have long a tradition of occasionally adopting proposals first pushed by minority party lawmakers.

On Monday, Tedisco's Republican proposal to join the governor and majority leaders in the Senate and Assembly in negotiating a state budget was defeated.

In a press release, Tedisco said ignoring the minority party lawmakers disenfranchises the millions of New Yorkers who live in their districts.

"It's pathetic," he said.

end quotes

YES ....

IT IS PATHETIC ....

HERE IS GEORGE W. BUSH SPENDING BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS .....

ALLEGEDLY PROMOTING DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST ....

THE END OF "STRONGMAN RULE" OVER THERE ....

WHEN WE DON'T HAVE DEMOCRACY ....

RIGHT HERE IN THE CORRUPT EMPIRE OF NEW YORK .....

RIGHT HERE IN THE GOOD OLD US of A .....

BECAUSE OF "STRONGMAN RULE" ....

And so ...

[Livyjr]

"Writers on NYRA to-pay list"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, January 29, 2007

The New York Racing Association has long been known for treating reporters who cover NYRA races warmly.

A new bankruptcy filing from NYRA shows the friendliness extends beyond free lunches.

The filing also shows Paul Vandenburgh, a WROW-AM 590 talk show host and manager who frequently has NYRA officials on his program, is owed $300; NYRA says it was for a "remote" of his show at the track.

Vandenburgh said the $300 is his standard "talent fee" when his station does a live broadcast from the premises of a business.

end quotes

A TALENT FEE?

HHHhhhhmmmmmm .......

Maybe me and Mr. A.B. are missing out on something here ......

This "TALENT FEE" bid-ness .....

Let's see .....

We've both been posting in here for a couple of years now ...

Which must qualify us as TALENTS now .....

And let's see .....

At $300 per "performance" ......

Well ....

Mr. A.B. .....

You up to a trip to Florida with me .....

We'll hit some race tracks .....

Play some golf with Greg Norman .....

I'll pass on the high-priced strip club, myself ....

And I believe Mr. A.B. will as well .....

But with all that "APPEARANCE MONEY" in our warchests in here .....

Me and Mr. A.B. will both be sporting brand-new executive jets to ferry us around .....

And so ....

BOY, ISN'T THIS BEING A "PORKER" A REAL COOL DEAL ......

And so ....

And here ....

I can just hear Mr. A.B. telling me .....

To forget the corporate jets and all that .....

And fees for signing my name to things .....

That aren't true .....

Using my name and reputation ....

To propagate lies ......

To benefit one man .....

At the expense of a community depending upon my personal integrity .....

He'll remind me that I was offered the opportunity before .....

And I turned it down .....

Come what may ....

I'll take the blows ......

And Mr. A.B. would be right about that .....

Yes ....

I was offered the opportunity to scam people in the State of New York ......

On behalf of Senator Joe Bruno ....

Back in 1988 ....

By signing my name ....

To a declaration ....

That "Big Joe's" land met the State Public Health Law regulations .....

For residential development ....

For sale ....

To the unsuspecting public .....

When in fact ....

It did not .....

And I knew the difference .....

And so .....