| I don't even know where to start. As we now face rather severe cuts in all manner of essential services as well as a number of new tax and fee increases, the New York Times drops this bomb about the sprawling patronage/perk empire built and enjoyed by the Senate Republicans over the years. Private TV studio for Republican use only? Check. Secret facilities staffed by dozens of state employees doing political work for the Republicans? Check. Customized van with swiveling leather captain's chairs now referred to as the "Brunomobile"? Check.
And don't even ask about the parking spaces. Or how much this was costing us.
Democrats took control of the State Senate last month after more than four decades of Republican rule, then set out to determine how the Senate's own budget of nearly $100 million and its attendant perks were being distributed.
They are still trying to figure it out.
They recently realized there are some 75 employees working at the Senate's own printing plant, a plain brick building on the outskirts of Albany. On Long Island, they found a small television studio, which had been set up - all with public money, with two press aides on hand to help operate it - for the exclusive use of Republican senators to record cable TV shows.
Democrats also came across what they are calling the "Brunomobile," a $50,000 specially outfitted GMC van, with six leather captain's chairs (some swiveling), a navigation system, rearview camera and meeting table. Joseph L. Bruno, the former Senate majority leader who was recently indicted on corruption charges, traveled in the van after his use of state helicopters sparked a feud with the Spitzer administration.
Then there are the parking spots, always at a premium near the Capitol. Democrats had been given roughly one spot per senator - there were 30 Democrats last year - and guessed there were perhaps double or even triple that controlled by the majority. Instead, they have learned, there are more than 800.
And Democratic leaders must determine what to do about 45 workers toiling away in a building close to the Capitol who appear to have been engaged in quasi-political research for the Republicans.
(All emphasis mine)
Look, I think we've always known that something like this was going on. I mean, it was obvious that Republican Senators sent full color mailings while Democrats sent mailings in black and white. I have written myself about really lame fake TV "news" reports praising this or that GOP senator. They were obviously produced in house.
That said, I had no idea they were operating a clandestine TV Studio of their very own. The best quote in the entire piece goes to Rich Azzopardi, spokeman for Senator Craig Johnson:
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Senator Craig M. Johnson - who had been the lone Long Island Democrat until November's election - said he had heard "vague rumors" about the existence of the facility. He guffawed when asked if Mr. Johnson had ever been invited by the Republicans to use it.
"No," Mr. Azzopardi said, "I don't believe they ever gave us the password that shut down the waterfall to enter the cave leading into the studio."
And even the new Majority Leader has no idea just how extensive this system of patronage and privilege was.
During an interview, Mr. Smith turned to an aide and asked: "What's that place off campus? Some building we haven't even been to yet. It has like 200 people there and we didn't even know it existed."
He was referring to the Senate's printing plant, about seven miles from the Capitol.
Bills, mailings and various brochures were printed there, with Republicans receiving premium service. For instance, the constituent newsletters sent to Republican districts were printed in multiple colors, while those printed for Democratic districts were printed in black and white, with one color. Democratic leaders say the lease for the plant currently costs the state $632,460 per year, and that the payroll appears to be about $2.7 million.
Workers there, many of whom have worked at the facility for much of their professional lives, are wondering about their job security.
"It's not like it doesn't go through people's minds," said Fred Beck, the good-natured assistant director of mail and printing services for the Senate, during a tour of the plant. He showed a reporter three jumbo Xerox machines that can each crank out 180 copies per minute, as well as thick coils of paper and stacks of Senate mailers.
Are all the employees here Republicans? Mr. Beck was asked.
"Yeah, I believe so," he said. "It's not like I go around and ask."
The next time that some GOP Senator tells you that they are just trying to be good stewards of the public's money or that they are standing up for the little guy or that they and only they can protect you from those megalomaniac elitists from NYC -- or any such nonsense -- ask them if they ever got a ride in the "Brunomobile".
Good Gawd. |
