The cost of being a state lawmaker is extraordinarily high ”“ not for the lawmaker, but for the taxpayer.
Take for example, recently fallen state Sen. Vincent Leibell. For the six months from Oct. 1, 2009 through the end of March of this year, he racked up total expenditures of $304,378.62. That includes personal service expenditures of $281,618.15, of which is included his $42,000.03 salary, as well as money for assistants, aides, receptionist, counsel and community liaisons. Lawmakers need liaisons since they”™re too busy to talk with their constituents ”“ the people who actually voted them into office ”“ themselves.
Leibell”™s member travel expenditures for his legislative duties in Albany amounted to $6,222; that”™s an additional stipend to his salary. It”™s sort of like having your boss pay you a bonus for each day you show up for work. It”™s a great idea, because why would anyone ever want to call in sick?
General expenditures amounted to $22,760.47, which included delis in Albany and his home county of Putnam that amounted to $1,571.25.
There was also mailing expenses ”“ $95,515.83 worth.
Keep in mind, all these costs are for only six months.
But to keep things in perspective, as bad as Leibell”™s expenditure report looks, John Sampson”™s is illustrious at $655,912.80. Also, for six months.
Amazing how our hard-earned tax dollars are spent.
But wait, we haven”™t even broached the subject of member items or earmarks, also known as pork barrel. This is the money that keeps lawmakers getting re-elected. We haven”™t been able to crunch all the numbers for Leibell”™s 28 years in the Assembly and Senate, but a look at recent figures should give you some indication how much pork was accrued over all those long years.
From 2008 to 2009, Leibell pulled down $2.1 million in earmarks for groups in his district, including the one he founded, The Putnam Community Foundation Inc. It received $150,000 during the 2008-09 period. It received the same amount from 2009-10. Federal authorities said the nonprofit had received “millions of dollars in member-item grants” sponsored by Leibell.
But everyone does it, that”™s always been the guiding mantra in Albany.
Again, solely for perspective, even the governor couldn”™t help himself when it comes to pork. It was reported by the Albany Times Union that he himself doled out $17 million worth of pork, including $5 million to New Jersey to promote the 2014 SuperBowl at the Meadowlands.
But bloated expenditures, kickbacks, corruption, tax evasion, obstruction of justice aside, here is the ultimate insult. We, the taxpayers, now have to pay his $71,000 pension. Why? Because there is no law in this state that says otherwise.
Leibell will get his money the same way that Joe Bruno gets $96,000, Alan Hevesi gets nearly $106,000 and other convicted lawmaker felons receive pensions.
It is truly a crime; a crime against the taxpayers of this state.
