Constituents in 90th Assembly District Want Change to State Member Item System (called “Pork”)

February 21, 2007

More than 550 constituents in the 90th Assembly District represented by State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef said that they want to change the way that Albany distributes member items, also known as “pork”.

The following responses were given to a survey in Galef’s newsletter to constituents in the Westchester towns of Ossining and Cortlandt and the city of Peekskill and the Putnam County towns of Philipstown, Putnam Valley, and Kent:

• 55% said that all state legislators should get the same amount of money to distribute throughout their communities
• 97% said that there should be standards to qualify for member item dollars
• 93% said that legislators should not give out “pork” 60 days before an election so that incumbents don’t have an unfair advantage over opponents

Assemblywoman Galef noted that in the survey “comments” some 17% of respondents said there should be no pork at all. Galef concluded: “It is obvious that this is an issue that has finally captured the public and should be part of any reform that takes place in Albany. Hopefully other legislators will join me on bills that I am introducing to change the current member item system.”

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