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FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT: MATT MOYSE (518) 455-5981
FINCH JOINS CALL FOR RELEASE OF “TRUE PORK” INFORMATION
In recent weeks,
elected officials have opened up the “Member-Item” process, where
lawmakers get to dole out state funds for pet projects, to bring greater
accountability and transparency to state government. Assemblyman Gary D.
Finch (R,C,I-Springport), however, stated today that the steps taken are
minor in comparison to the magnitude of the problem. Finch noted he has
found a least 50 “secret slush funds” dating back to the 2000-2001 State
Budget listed as lump sum allocations without specific projects or
legislators identified.
The 50 slush funds total nearly $3.4 billion, far
surpassing the $200 million “member-item” fund. Finch said the
allocation of the funds is not defined.
“The last six state budgets have included billions of
dollars of pork and were allocated throughout New York state without the
public having the ability to scrutinize where their tax dollars are
headed,” said Finch. “We need to end the process of secret slush funds
and it should start tomorrow when Governor Spitzer announces his
Executive Budget. If we are serious about bringing forth true
transparency and accountability, then it is imperative we define pork
doled out by legislators.”
Finch noted he has joined the call with Assembly
Republican Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) for
Governor Spitzer to eliminate these funds from the Executive Budget he
plans to unveil Wednesday.
“I truly believe many of these projects greatly
benefited the people and community where the funds went,” said Finch.
“It is unacceptable; however, that billions of dollars have been
allocated from our state budget, funded by our taxpayers, yet there is
no trail to see where and who the funds were allocated to.”
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