Insider Trading?

New Spreadsheet file summarizes pork in Both Houses (0.00 / 0)

A slick new spreadsheet file, summarizing multiple years of pork in both Houses, produced by an anonymous kind soul is now available via Ben Smith's blog.

Further links here:

http://thealbanyproj...

---

by: teaparty2 @ Sat Dec 16, 2006 at 06:37:48 AM UTC

Statement from Spreadsheet Creator (0.00 / 0)

Here's the statement appended to the aforementioned spreadsheet by its anonymous creator:

The New York State Senate and Assembly took great pains to withhold from the public a detailed accounting of how it allocates hundreds of millions of dollars a year in discretionary grants aka “member items.”  After being forced to disclose this information by the courts, our State representatives released the data in formats that were designed to limit the ability of the general public to examine, analyze and draw conclusions about their spending choices. 

This spread sheet is an attempt to thwart their efforts. The data has been converted and restructured to fit a readily accessible software program. The new format allows users to search and manage data to suit their own needs. Features such as automatically generated value sub-totals should facilitate data analysis. We hope the spread sheet will be used by regular citizens interested in learning their elected representative’s commitments and priorities. It should also be of use to professionals that might want to investigate patterns in the types of organizations and individuals that receive discretionary grants.

Whoever you are, please be advised that this regular citizen/professional greatly appreciates your stalwart efforts!

---

by: teaparty2 @ Sat Dec 16, 2006 at 06:49:34 AM UTC