Published: May 14, 2008 03:45 am         

Member items have got to go

"Member items" in the New York state Legislature serve one purpose above all others.

They contribute to more than 90 percent of the legislators getting re-elected every other November.

Here's how it works:

Members of the Assembly and Senate leadership get together and decide how to divvy up almost $150 million in taxpayer funding for member item allocations.

The members are members of the two legislative bodies. The items are what they get to donate as if it was their own money to their constituents .

Since Democrats control the Assembly, chances are if you're a Democratic assemblyman, you're going to get more dough to spend on your district's voters than if you were a Republican.

The reverse is true in the Senate, where the GOP has a two-vote majority and thus, more moolah for Republican senators.

The Assembly is run by the Democratic Speaker, Sheldon Silver. Silver managed to get his hands on about $3 million out of the current budget for his pet projects.

Silver was outdone this year by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who grabbed $4.3 million in pork he can ladle out.

It's important to remember that if funding is going to your district, it's state aid. If it's going to somebody else's district, it's pork.

Granted, this state Legislature re-election fund provides some needed funding to legitimate local entities, but it's an awful way to run a railroad ... or a state.

Locally, Sen. James Seward, R-Milford garnered about $2 million out of the 2008-09 state budget, and he's proud of being able to help worthy local voters .... er ... citizens.

He said he counts on his experience and seniority to "go to bat very aggressively on behalf of my communities."

Other area state lawmakers _ Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, and Assemblymen Bill Magee, D-Nelson; Pete Lopez, R-Schoharie; and Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford _ have somewhat less funding to give to their constituents.

There is something worthwhile in legislators' assertions that their local knowledge makes them the best arbiters of where state money should go.

However, democracy has a big problem, because it looks for all intents and purposes that the taxpayers' money is coming directly from a politician who is not the least bit reluctant to issue a press release and have his picture taken in a check-passing ceremony.

"Hey, Jim Seward got us a grant." "What a great rep Bill Magee is for giving us this money." "Pete Lopez really cares about us." "Cliff Crouch _ what a guy!"

Realistically, what chance does a challenger have in the next election when it appears the incumbent is giving money to worthy local causes?

The whole process is unfair. It's long past time to do away with member items.