The fault lines over special legislative spending items — also known as the pork barrel — are widening between Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and the legislature, as shown by a clash last week.
Levy introduced a bill that would identify which programs each member funded in the budget. He’s asked the for same thing and been turned down before — and the bill can be considered dead on arrival.
“It’s not going to pass,” said Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook). “It’s contrary to the process.”
Levy complains that the legislature meets behind closed doors and make changes to his proposed budget — then all the changes are swept into a single bill and voted on as a whole, making it difficult to say if X legislator sent money to Y group. "With a wink and a nod, that said if you support my pork, I'll support your pork. No questions asked," said Levy.
Chau Lam
Lindsay said it does not matter which lawmaker cares most about a project, since all 18 lawmakers approve the changes. The budget lists the groups and how much they get.
“It's not an individual initiative. It’s a group effort. And sometime it’s not unanimous,” said Lindsay.
Comments (1)
all governments should be transparent. honesty is the the best policy for all politicians, and everyone else.
this nations is rapidly becoming a corporate state. what has happened to the phrase "WE THE PEOPLE."was it thrown out with the bath water?
governments are getting too sleazy for must americans. note the last election. its time for a real honest third party.