Prohibits the public presentation by legislators of certain funds within twenty days of the date of an election in which the legislator is a candidate

Justification

Member items are public monies spent on local activities. Such member items are beneficial to communities. Currently, each state legislator receives requests for financial grants from organizations within their districts. The issue is not whether they are a good use of public money, but rather, that the current law contains loopholes which may inadvertently allow the presentation of the grant allocations for an incumbent's use. This provides an unfair advantage for the incumbent, and when displayed in close timing to one's election, may be an inad- vertent use of taxpayers' monies for individual purposes.

Currently, there is also a mailing deadline for the distribution of materials printed and produced by the Assembly during the years of any elections in which the legislator is a candidate. This rule appropriate- ly prevents any misperception of the misuse of taxpayers' money for an incumbent's personal gain. Similarly, the distribution and presentation of legislative grants/member items, which are also taxpayers' monies should also not be publicly displayed by a legislator as to prevent any misperception of the misuse of taxpayers' monies. There should be no public perception of the unfair use of public monies. Each time there is a groundbreaking, ribbon cutting, or giant check ceremony, there may be news coverage of the event, which improves the public perception of the legislator. While the issue is not whether they are a good use of public monies, but whether the grant allocation is. There should not be a hint of impropriety or public perception that hard earned taxpayers' money was used to sway votes.

Member items are public monies spent on local activities. Many of these items are beneficial to communities. Currently, each state legislator receives requests for financial grants from organizations within their districts. However, there are no formal mechanisms that exist for the distribution of member item funds to legislators' districts, or for organizations to apply for member item grants. There does not appear to be any assessment of the relative merits of member item grants.

The hearing would be publicized via various methods in the district - i.e. media, fliers, etc. This hearing would allow interested organiza- tions to present their request for legislative grants and allow the public to view the process in which taxpayers' monies are distributed.

Ultimately, the legislator would make final decisions regarding the allocations of funding, but the revised process would at the very least allow the public to be involved in the process and make government more transparent and accessible.

We should hold ourselves, and our colleagues, accountable to our constituents and to the State of New York. Member items are paid for with taxpayers' monies. Information about who stands to benefit from these state dollars should be available for public comment before the money is committed. Organizations that may not have the proper political connections or relationships should not stand to suffer when receiving necessary funding to help the community. It is particularly important now, with the state facing a fiscal crisis that we insist on improving and maintaining the integrity of the member item process. This bill would make the distribution of member items more transparent and equita- ble for the people and the well-intentioned non-profit organizations of New York.

Fiscal implications

None