First let me start with I apologize to anyone who reads my blog regularly. I have not been posting as often as usual due to being out of town and being busy working two jobs.
With that said, lets discuss the loss of Pork (aka Member-items) to Upstate New York. Newspapers across the state are reporting that Upstate New York has seen a record loss in member item allocated dollars. Somehow this is a suprise to them.
Yes, it is undeniable that every single leader, Republican and Democrat, in the state houses are from downstate resulting in more money flowing to the city and surrounding areas. Yet this is not the sole reason why money is going downstate.
Pork dollars have begun to go downstate because downstate puts more money into the state. Overall downstate puts in way more in taxes than upstate. So, if they recieve more pork, it is not completely unexpected.
Also, Downstate is haveing a more severe recession then upstate areas. Now, i am not saying that upstate is not having problems, it is. However, the majority of people working downstate work in banks, on wall street, in short, the financial sector. This is where the biggest hurt happend. So, more of them are losing their jobs. Which means they will need more pork to support their municipal goings on.
More importantly, the question needs to be asked about how pork is allocated. Yes, it is unfair. Yes, some years minority members do not recieve the money they need. And yes, a new process is needed. Personally, i am not sure what that is.
However, if i had to take a stab in the dark it would be taking all the projects and members asking for pork and do a needs analysis for the community. I gurantee that if this is done less pork will be doled out and when it is it will have a larger impact. but thats just my thoughts…
