How to shut down the slick Albany money scam. Dan Donovan has a damn good idea.

For years, one of the biggest scams in the State of New York has been a shell game where some elected officials “direct” taxpayer money to an organization. The practice falls under the categories of so-called “pork,” “member items,” and “bringing home the bacon.” The money is supposed to be for a worthy cause but then ultimately in some of these cases we find out the money is lining the pockets of an elected official. Privately, some of them even brag of their elaborate plans.

Please don’t get me wrong here. There are thousands of legitimate groups that need these funds for survival. The real difference between closing the doors permanently and remaining open being a community life-line. Valuable non profits, little leagues, housing organizations, youth groups. Sadly though, to the criminal extreme, in our state we have even witnessed taxpayer money for a baseball little league being stolen by an elected official.

The way the scam works, the group receiving the taxpayer dollars is controlled by a friend of the law maker or a girlfriend. If that doesn’t work a grandson will do, a cousin, sister, brother or any other family member.

Sometimes the organization can be a multi-million dollar operation, or a group that only “operates” with the money solely earmarked by the lawmaker. The money goes to the group and you already know the rest of the story, somehow, someway–the elected official ends up directly benefiting. How do you stop it.

Follow the money.
Follow the money.
Follow the money.

With all of the disclosure laws, the scores and scores of investigators, a District Attorney in every county, how could this practice possibly exist in the State of New York?

You have to tip your hat to Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan who is running for State Attorney General, and it took Donovan to come up with this good move. Here‘s Donovan’s idea.

**Force politicians to state, under penalty of perjury, that they have no personal ties, financial or otherwise, with any group they plan to fund using taxpayer dollars.**

Key words, under penalty of perjury, and stating in advance if there is a connection. Donovan’s plan seems so simple. Why isn’t it already law.

Could it be because the same lawmakers that would have to approve Donovan’s plan are some of the same ones doing the shell game now.

Could it also be the sad reality is elected officials will never really police themselves, unless their hands are tied. How do you force them to do the right thing, exposure, and “sunlight.” One of the wraps on the state capitol is what goes on in Albany stays in Albany. Yet public pressure and media scrutiny can bring about necessary change. (like at the NY City Council regarding this same practice. At least steps are being made in the right direction)

And that bring me to another point on so called pork, member items, and bringing home the bacon. The elected official solely decides which group in the community receives these discretionary funds. That’s an unfair subjective process. What if you have no tie to your local elected official. That means in all likelihood your cause/group will not receive any money. What if the elected official simply doesn’t like your personality. No money! Yet if your political and connected, you can probably count on those funds being delivered to your group.

What is clear is that the race for State Attorney General will be interesting, pitting Mr. Donovan against Democrat Eric Schneiderman and it’s the one where Republicans have the best chance of winning a state-wide seat. Donovan is a rising star in the Republican party.

At least with this initiative, Donovan beat Albany at it’s own slick game, but unfortunately Albany usually gets the last laugh.