ALBANY - Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco on Thursday accused of Democratic Gov. Eliot of Spitzer of retaliating against 21 more Republican Assembly members over Tedisco's criticism of the governor.
Tedisco said Spitzer has yanked grants totaling more than $740,000 for projects in lawmakers' districts including a walkway for a senior center, volunteer fire companies, food pantries, and schools as well as a free clinic in his own Schenectady County district.
Spitzer spokesman Jeffrey Gordon, however, said $405,583 in grants to 19 community groups was cut as part of Spitzer's previously announced plan to fund only “member items” that were approved before Jan. 1, when Spitzer took office. More than $300,000 worth of projects that Tedisco referred to are still being reviewed, Gordon said.
The grants cut in Tedisco's district includes $90,000 to the village of Ballston Spa for its bicentennial celebration, $10,000 for updated boats for the Scotia-Glenville Rowing Association, $11,000 for two youth football leagues, $25,000 for rubber mulch for a playground at a school, and $11,748 for a tractor for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, according to the list provided by the Spitzer administration.
Other state grants cut were $50,000 for an elevator for the American Italian Heritage Association, $10,000 for the Canandaigua Police Department, $10,000 for the Canandaigua Police Department, and thousands for pagers and safety equipment for volunteer fire companies.
The grants that lawmakers call member items have long been criticized by good-government groups as pork-barrel spending by incumbent to curry favor with local voters and donors, sometimes for questionable public benefit. Lawmakers emphasize that many go to health and social programs.
“My message to Governor Spitzer is, don't take out your frustration over my opposition to your plan to give illegal aliens driver's licenses on the millions of men and women our conference represents,” Tedisco said in a press release.
Tedisco said he believes the funding was cut because of his criticism of Spitzer's plan to make it easier for illegal immigrants to receive drivers' licenses. Tedisco told reporters Osama bin Laden would celebrate Spitzer's plan.
Spitzer defends the plan, saying it would increase security by making streets safer, reducing insurance premiums, and tracking hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants consistent with the findings of the 9/11 Commission.
Spitzer spokesman Jeffrey Gordon, however, said $405,583 in grants to 19 community groups was cut as part of Spitzer's previously announced plan to fund only “member items” that were approved before Jan. 1, when Spitzer took office. More than $300,000 worth of projects that Tedisco referred to are still being reviewed, Gordon said.
The grants cut in Tedisco's district includes $90,000 to the village of Ballston Spa for its bicentennial celebration, $10,000 for updated boats for the Scotia-Glenville Rowing Association, $11,000 for two youth football leagues, $25,000 for rubber mulch for a playground at a school, and $11,748 for a tractor for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, according to the list provided by the Spitzer administration.
Other state grants cut were $50,000 for an elevator for the American Italian Heritage Association, $10,000 for the Canandaigua Police Department, $10,000 for the Canandaigua Police Department, and thousands for pagers and safety equipment for volunteer fire companies.
The grants that lawmakers call member items have long been criticized by good-government groups as pork-barrel spending by incumbent to curry favor with local voters and donors, sometimes for questionable public benefit. Lawmakers emphasize that many go to health and social programs.
“My message to Governor Spitzer is, don't take out your frustration over my opposition to your plan to give illegal aliens driver's licenses on the millions of men and women our conference represents,” Tedisco said in a press release.
Tedisco said he believes the funding was cut because of his criticism of Spitzer's plan to make it easier for illegal immigrants to receive drivers' licenses. Tedisco told reporters Osama bin Laden would celebrate Spitzer's plan.
Spitzer defends the plan, saying it would increase security by making streets safer, reducing insurance premiums, and tracking hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants consistent with the findings of the 9/11 Commission.
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