DiNapoli in 'Pay to Pay'

New York Post ^ | 10.29.10 | By BRENDAN SCOTT in Albany and CARL CAMPANILE in NY

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's campaign has reaped more than $340,000 from law firms seeking legal work from his agency, The Post has learned.

The massive sum from firms that represent -- or are in line to represent -- the Comptroller's Office in lucrative class-action lawsuits accounts for 8 percent of DiNapoli's entire fund-raising haul since 2008.

Such firms have collected hundreds of millions in legal fees in recent years, drawing cries of "pay to play" from critics of how DiNapoli and his predecessors have managed the state's $125 billion pension fund.

Donations to the state's top fiscal officer have come under increased scrutiny since Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's industry-rocking investigation into abuse of the pension fund under former Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

"It's basically a process where the comptroller gives out business from the pension fund and there are campaign contributions involved," charged Harry Wilson, DiNapoli's GOP rival.

"It's just another form of the same pay-to-play culture that thrived under Alan Hevesi."

[Opinionated Blowhard]

While not specifically covering this situation, there are new SEC rules out on pay to play that are pretty strict. Hopefully it will shine a light on this type of conduct. The bottom line is that any time the state has a lot of money, there will be corruption in how it is allocated even if it is someone’s pension.