This newspaper's article about “Albany's Grant Game” (7/27) needs a response! The article points out that “there are those in office, as well as those running for office, who believe that the state's ‘free money' should not go to a select few but rather, equally distributed.”

(Taxpayers will generally agree that all groups are deserving.)

The one guilty of giving away the most to a select few is Senator Nozzolio and it is apparent that he only chooses those groups who will provide him the most votes!

Over the past decade, our state has been in an economic downturn and we are facing a $26.2 billion deficit over the next three years. Therefore, this isn't really “free money” at all ... it's money the state has to borrow.

Borrowing from the future to pay for the present is, unfortunately, becoming routine in Albany.

For example, the State of New York sold Attica prison to none other than itself. The buyer was a state agency that financed the $200 million purchase price by issuing bonds. The agency then leased the prison back to the state, with the lease payments being equal to the debt service on the bonds.

While he's been in office, Senator Nozzolio has given away nearly $50 million. Ultimately, it may cost the taxpayers three times that amount before it can ever be paid back!

The taxpayer should be alarmed that our children and grandchildren, through the creatively deceptive budgeting process which is going on in Albany, will have to pay all these added costs we're incurring.

Budgetary dissembling has to be stopped and Paloma Capanna, who is running against Senator Nozzolio, will stop it!

Joyce Hackett Smith-Moore

Moravia