What’s your favorite State earmark?
Where does all that earmark money go?
You can check out the 9 Meg New York State Senate file here.
Let’s play a game. Find your favorite earmark. Write about it in the comments
I haven’t looked in great detail at both files and I will when I have time but.. Look at what our state elected officials
From the Senate PDF do a search on Churches. Notice the Church in Church of God Central Newburgh
for costs associated with furnishing their new building which will house
four meeting rooms and a conference room which will be open for public
use
I wonder who maintains that schedule? Who have priority. Like they say possession is 9/10 of the law. Something just strike me odd about this one done by Senator Larkin.
But have fun. Highlight your favorite earmark in the comments.
Binghamton State Sen. Libous earmarked $100K so that he could get his name slapped on Empire State Games promotional material as a sponsor. Your money, his re-election campaign.
http://www.newyorksportswriters.org/blog/blog-2008-03-22.shtml
Project Title: Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, The
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Funds will support summer programs open to kids of all income levels.
Funding Level: $2,500.00
Senator’s Name: Robach
But I don’t think churches should be tax-exempt, either, so that’s where I’m coming from.
There’s almost 5,200 earmarks in there. That’s a lot of pork.
Jim Alesi: 132 Pork Chops…$650,000 on these projects alone - what do property taxes pay for? Now I know where he got the ladder from that he tried to break and enter into that home when he fell and broke his leg. Turns out, he’s a fireman’s best friend…
This is BS - pure and simple. I respect firemen, and emergency workers, but where does the taxc money, the carnival funding, the fundraisers - how much money is there in this? I recently read about nearly 250K spent on ONE firehall in Greece - now I know why.
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 527 Line No. 42
Project Title: Chili Fire Department
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 527 Line No. 7
Project Title: Bushnell’s Basin Fire Association, Inc.
Location of Project: Pittsford, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, rescue gear and equipment.
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Previous Funding: 07-08 Funding: 15,000.00
Chapter No. 53 Page No. 119 Line No. 29
Project Title: Chili Public Library
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with operating and administrative services.
Funding Level: $5,000.00
07-08 Funding 10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 527 Line No. 43
Project Title: Churchville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Location of Project: Churchville, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Requested Agency to Administer Program: State
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 527 Line No. 47
Project Title: Clifton Fire Department, Inc.
Location of Project: Clifton, NY
Description of Project: To be used for a new rescue truck.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 529 Line No. 5
Project Title: East Rochester Fire Department
Location of Project: East Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $25,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 529 Line No. 6
Project Title: East Rochester Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Location of Project: East Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $20,000.00
Chapter No. 53 Page No. 301 Line No. 28
Project Title: East Rochester Youth Activity Center
Location of Project: East Rochester, NY
Costs associated with continuation of services at youth activity center.
The center provides a facility where teens can gather in a safe environment
to engage in education, recreational and community service activities.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $5,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $5,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 529 Line No. 13
Project Title: Egypt Fire Association, Inc.
Location of Project: Fairport, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, extrication equipment.
Funding Level: $23,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $17,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 529 Line No. 23
Project Title: Fairport Fire Department
Location of Project: Fairport, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 530 Line No. 15
Project Title: Gates Fire District
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 531 Line No. 27
Project Title: Henrietta Fire District
Location of Project: Henrietta, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 531 Line No. 28
Project Title: Henrietta Volunteer Ambulance Service, Inc.
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, the purchase of two computers.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 54 Page No. 471 Line No. 14
Project Title: Heritage Christian Services, Inc.
Location of Project: East Rochester, NY
Costs associated with a community-wide contest designed to attract and
highlight Rochester area artists, as well as for commissioning and creating
an outdoor sculpture to be placed in the sculpture court at the front of the
Pieters Family Life Center. The sculpture will honor permanently, those
that have advocated and supported individuals with disabilities and their
families.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $55,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $50,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 531 Line No. 46
Project Title: Honeoye Falls Fire Department, Inc.
Location of Project: Honeoye Falls, NY
Costs associated with, but not limited to, communications upgrades and
voice pagers.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 531 Line No. 47
Project Title: Honeoye Falls Volunteer Ambulance
Location of Project: Honeoye Falls, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 532 Line No. 9
Project Title: Irondequoit Volunteer Ambulance
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Costs associated with, but not limited to, the purchase and installation of
equipment.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $15,000.00
Chapter No. 54 Page No. 16 Line No. 29
Project Title: Irondequoit, Town of
Location of Project: Irondequoit, NY
Costs associated with senior citizen programs for residents of the Town of
Irondequoit.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $5,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $5,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 532 Line No. 41
Project Title: Laurelton Fire Department
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 533 Line No. 48
Project Title: Mendon Fire District
Location of Project: Mendon, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 53 Page No. 120 Line No. 26
Project Title: Mendon Public Library
Location of Project: Honeoye Falls, NY
Costs associated with, but not limited to, the purchase of new furniture for
library’s capital project.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $7,500.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 534 Line No. 10
Project Title: Monroe County Firemen’s Association, Inc.
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Costs associated with the hosting of the annual convention of the
Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $5,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 534 Line No. 17
Project Title: Mumford Fire Department, Inc.
Location of Project: Mumford, NY
Costs associated with, but not limited to, rescue and extrication
equipment.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $20,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 536 Line No. 8
Project Title: Penfield Fire Company, Inc.
Location of Project: Penfield, NY
Costs associated with, but not limited to, fire prevention and education
services, and security identification enhancements.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $20,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 536 Line No. 9
Project Title: Penfield Volunteer Emergency Ambulance
Location of Project: Penfield, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 54 Page No. 222 Line No. 26
Project Title: Perinton Ecumenical Ministries
Location of Project: Fairport, NY
To be used for funding an essential staff position — volunteer coordinator
– to cultivate, train and schedule over 250 adult volunteers.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 536 Line No. 12
Project Title: Perinton Volunteer Ambulance
Location of Project: Fairport, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 536 Line No. 20
Project Title: Pittsford Volunteer Ambulance
Location of Project: Pittsford, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 536 Line No. 21
Project Title: Pittsford Volunteer Fire Department
Location of Project: Pittsford, NY
Costs associated with, but not limited to, cautionary and protective
signage.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $13,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 536 Line No. 24
Project Title: Point Pleasant Fire Department
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 536 Line No. 51
Project Title: Ridge Culver Fire District
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 537 Line No. 24
Project Title: Rush Fire Department
Location of Project: Rush, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 537 Line No. 40
Project Title: Scottsville Fire Department
Location of Project: Scottsville, NY
Costs associated with, but not limited to, rescue and extrication
equipment.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 537 Line No. 41
Project Title: Sea Breeze Fire Department
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Chapter No. 53 Page No. 117 Line No. 26
Project Title: Sing-Out Company, Inc.
Location of Project: East Rochester, NY
Costs associated with annual musical production. Sing-Out provides a
means of community service for high school students.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $5,000.00
This is an ER High School Production! Why is this now incorporated?
Chapter No. 55 Page No. 538 Line No. 37
Project Title: St. Paul Boulevard Fire Association
Location of Project: Rochester, NY
Description of Project: Costs associated with, but not limited to, operations and services.
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Previous Funding 07-08: $10,000.00
Well he’s got “Robach The Religious” beat - poor Joe Joe only has 131 pieces of pork - and many of them to religious based groups.
The all seem to have a pattern, although they all share in the fire department donations…but here’s the scoop on Bruno:
Joe Bruno (The Little League King) checks in with 144 Pork Earmarks - He gives approximately $350K to softball, soccer, and footballs little league teams. What does he give to the poor, or M.A.D.D.? $15,000.00 TOTAL. How DISGUSTING.
Project Title: Bethany Hospitality Center, Inc
Location of Project: Troy
Description of Project: Funding for Programs Serving Homeless & Working Poor of Troy
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Project Title: Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Location of Project: Capital Region
Funding to support MADD’s mission (to include but not limited to,
education programs in local schools, train volunteers, sponsor Youth in
Action team and public awareness campaign, support law enforcement
efforts)
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $5,000.00
Project Title: Averill Park Junior Warriors Pop Warner Football Club, Inc
Location of Project: Averill Park (Butler Park)
Funding for equipment, training tools, uniforms, cheer vests, lights for the
practice field and a moveable concession stand (at Butler Park)
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Project Title: Blast Fastpitch, Inc
Location of Project: Troy
Description of Project: Funding for uniforms and various pieces of practice equipment.
Funding Level: $6,000.00
Project Title: Brunswick Bulldogs Youth Football and Cheerleading
Location of Project: Brunswick
Funding for football helmets and equipment and cheerleading mats and
uniforms.
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Project Title: East Greenbush Miracle League, Inc
Location of Project: East Greenbush
Description of Project: Funding to assist with the construction of the club house
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Project Title: East Greenbush Pop Warner
Location of Project: East Greenbush
Description of Project: Funding for new football equipment and cheerleading uniforms
Funding Level: $25,000.00
Project Title: East Greenbush-Castleton Little League
Location of Project: East Greenbush-Castleton
Description of Project: Funding to reconfigure playing fields to meet new competition standards
Funding Level: $25,000.00
Project Title: Hoosic Valley Stampede Football and Cheerleading
Location of Project: Schaghticoke/Pittstown
Funding for uniforms, helmets, training equipment, field equipment,
concession equipment and awards
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $10,000.00
Project Title: Hoosick Falls Soccer Club
Location of Project: Hoosick Falls
Description of Project: Funding to construct a pavilion/concession stand
Funding Level: $15,000.00
Project Title: Mechanicville/Stillwater Little League
Location of Project: Mechanicville - George H. Pickett fields
Description of Project: Funding for building supplies to repair dugouts and buildings
Funding Level: $15,000.00
Project Title: Nassau Baseball Association
Location of Project: Nassau
Funding to improve the main field, fences, storage shed, bleachers and
concession area
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $25,000.00
Project Title: Rensselaer Girls’ Softball Association, Inc
Location of Project: Rensselaer
Description of Project: Funding to purchase uniforms and equipment
Funding Level: $7,500.00
Project Title: Rensselaer Little League
Location of Project: Rensselaer
Description of Project: Funding to construct a new concession building
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Project Title: Rensselaer Pop Warner
Location of Project: Rensselaer
Description of Project: Funding for new football equipment and cheerleading uniforms
Funding Level: $15,000.00
Project Title: Spring Youth Baseball
Location of Project: Troy
Funding for general improvements to include but not limited to paving,
permanent seating and a new shed
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $20,000.00
Project Title: Troy Albany Youth Hockey Association
Location of Project: Troy
Description of Project: Funding for Capital Improvements
Funding Level: $60,000.00
Project Title: Troy Central Little League
Location of Project: Troy
Description of Project: Funding for bleachers and to pave parking lot and bleacher area
Funding Level: $15,000.00
Project Title: Twin Town Little League
Location of Project: West Sand Lake
Funding for expansion/renovation of both Williams Road and Poestenkill
complexes
Description of Project:
Funding Level: $25,000.00
Anything involving money to sports leagues/teams.
I remember being a kid (not too long ago for me) and I had to raise money by selling candy bars or by going around and asking for donations. That was our “pork.” We went out and raised money ourselves.
I saw several sports leagues or teams on just the Senate list of member items. I think the taxpayers should tell these leagues and teams to get out their and raise their own money instead of asking the taxpayers to cover the costs.
i love this idea, but, if we can use the logic of ALL taxpayers covering a cost makes it cheaper overall (which is an argument for funding sports stuff), the little league moms and dads from suburbia could be our biggest ally in the fight for universal health care, clean elections, aid to public education, etc. sadly, they tend to fall prey to the right wing spin machine.
More info about earmarks (aka member items) can be found here:
http://www.thealbanyproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3001
Unfortunately (for me) I don’t have excel so I can’t open the spread sheets. But it would be interesting to see what our local delegation has scored in the way of member items.
Here’s some reporting courtesy of links on the NYPIRG website:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080421/NEWS/804210321
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/05/03/2008-05-03_bruno_and_silver_cook_up_7m_in_pork-4.html
“Costs associated with, but not limited to…”
Am I wrong, or is that basically saying “Here, have some money. Do whatever the heck you want with it, as long as I get to come to your Fire Dept. open house and march in your parade, and don’t forget to put my name on your web site and fundraising info, and…. oh yeah, ribbon cuttings and stuff like that.
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