Smith a porky pig (Brings home bacon as #1 earmarker NY State)

New York Post ^ | March 23, 2010 | BRENDAN SCOTT

[SmokingJoe]

ALBANY -- Sen. Malcolm Smith is the Prince of Pork.

The Queens Democrat pigged out on $5.7 million in grants last year -- more than any other state legislator and $4.4 million higher than the average state senator, according to a report by a government watchdog.

That disparity makes Smith the poster child for an oft-criticized system that ensures that politically powerful lawmakers get to dole out a lion's share of pork-barrel grants.

The report by the New York Public Interest Research Group found that roughly a third of the state's 212 legislators -- led by Smith -- gobbled up half of member-item funds in 2009-10.

Senator Malcolm Smith. In the Senate -- which Smith had led as majority leader until last summer's coup fiasco -- 43 of the 62 senators got less than the average allotment of $1.2 million.

In the 150-seat Assembly, 114 lawmakers got less than the average $300,000.

"It's indefensible," said NYPIRG Legislative Director Blair Horner.

Noting that Sen. Roy McDonald (R-Saratoga) got $250,000, Horner said, "There are just as many people who live in Senator McDonald's district as there are living in Senator Smith's district. They should get the same amount."

Smith's haul was a far cry from the $657,000 he received in 2008, before Democrats took the Senate majority for the first time in more than four decades.

His spokesman Austin Shafran said Smith's status as a statewide leader justified the larger grant pool.

"His member items were given out on a statewide basis to community-based organizations in districts from Buffalo to Brookhaven," Shafran said.

"You're the leader of the conference; you're representing the entire Senate and the constituencies they serve," he said.

[SmokingJoe]

No surprise the state government’s finances are so screwed up. These vermin don't know no recession or financial crises. They just keep right on feeding at the trough of the public purse with no worries whatsoever. We are being ruled by thieves.